Wedoany.com Report-May 27, Russia may resume rice exports once its annual harvest reaches 2 million tonnes, according to Roman Nekrasov, Director of the Agriculture Ministry’s Department of Crop Production, Mechanization, Chemicalization, and Plant Protection. Speaking at the Caucasus Investment Forum, Nekrasov highlighted the strategic importance of restoring rice paddies to boost production and enable exports.

Nekrasov stated: “Restoring rice paddies is our strategic goal; good prospects for exports. We understand that as soon as our gross harvest reaches 2 million tonnes, and we are not that far from this milestone, rice exports will resume.” He emphasized rice as a key crop for the North Caucasus Federal District (NCFD), where it could serve as a primary component in irrigated crop rotations. The NCFD aims to produce 323,900 tonnes of rice annually by 2030, up from 172,900 tonnes last year.

Russia’s rice harvest reached a record 1.259 million tonnes in 2024, compared to 1.073 million tonnes in 2023, according to the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat). This growth brings the country closer to the 2 million-tonne threshold for resuming exports. A temporary export ban, in place since July 1, 2022, was introduced after an accident at the Fyodorovsky dam in the Krasnodar Territory, Russia’s main rice-producing region, reduced the 2022 harvest to 920,100 tonnes. The ban, aimed at ensuring sufficient domestic rice supply, has been extended every six months and remains in effect until June 30, 2025.

The Economic Development Ministry noted that the export restriction prioritizes meeting domestic demand, maintaining stable prices, and preventing shortages. The Agriculture Ministry anticipates that the Fyodorovsky hydroelectric complex, critical for rice production, will resume operations by 2027 following reconstruction.

The focus on increasing rice production in the NCFD and improving infrastructure like the Fyodorovsky dam reflects efforts to strengthen Russia’s agricultural sector. Achieving the 2 million-tonne harvest target could enhance the country’s position in global rice markets while ensuring domestic needs are met. The planned production increase in the NCFD by 2030 underscores the region’s growing role in supporting these ambitions.