Grain farming is the main branch of crop production and all agricultural production.
Grain farming in Russia
The Russian Federation leads the world in terms of the number of cultivated areas. Favorable climatic conditions, highly fertile soils, huge reserves of fresh water for irrigation in areas under crops make grain farming a fairly developed and profitable branch of crop production.
All grain crops grown on the territory of the Russian Federation are grouped by purpose as follows:
- food - bread (rye and wheat) and cereals (millet, buckwheat, rice);
- feed - oats, barley, corn (going for grain).
The largest areas under crops are occupied by spring and winter wheat (about 50% of all sown areas). The area under wheat from 1991 to 2011 increased by almost 13%. Of the forage crops, the largest areas are occupied by oats and barley. Corn is planted on only 3% of all grain crops.
The volume of grain exports in the world economy is an indicator of the country's economic development. The state primarily seeks to provide the necessary food for its own population (inin the interests of national security), and only in case of a surplus delivers the product for export.
The history of Russian grain supplies to the world market is full of periods of growth in supply volumes and periods of decline, up to its complete ban.
Export of grain crops from the Russian Empire
In the 70s. 19th century Russia has taken a special place in the European grain market. Grain was the main source of income for the Russian Empire. At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century. Russia occupies a leading position in the world in the production of grain bread, a fifth of the wheat grown in the world was Russian. More than 50% of rye, a third of barley and a quarter of oats grown in the world were Russian. Russia is the leader in the export of barley and rye, and ranks second in the world in the supply of oats and wheat.
Export of grain from the USSR
Coercive collectivization in the 30s led to a rapid decline in agricultural production, including grain bread. At the same time, his procurement plan has been greatly increased.
So, grain supplies from 1930 to 1932:
- 4.8 million tons of grain were exported in 1930, - in 1931 (in conditions of crop failure) - 5 million tons, - in 1932 (under the conditions of the onset of famine) - 2 million tons.
In the period from the 30s to the end of the 50s, the main goal of grain supplies from the USSR to the world market was to obtain foreign currency for the industrialization of the country, the restoration of the national economy,destroyed during the Great Patriotic War. The sale of grain crops abroad at that time was carried out in the harsh conditions of its internal shortage.
In the post-war period, grain exports to the world market remained, but since the late 50s. its volumes fell sharply and imports increased. From the 60s to the 90s. imports of grain prevail over its exports. We bought grain for the intensive development of animal husbandry and providing the population of the country with meat and milk.
2000s
Since the 90s a new period began in the export of grain from Russia, the supply of Russian grain increased, but in 1991-1993. Russia practically stops the export of grain and resumes deliveries only since 1994.
2001–2002 - this is a grain boom in Russia (grain production has increased), Russia for the first time in the last 70 years exported significant volumes of grain - 7 million tons, and entered the top ten world states in the sale of wheat and the top five in barley.
In 2002–2003 the production of grain and its export almost doubled, for example, Russia produced - 87 million tons, sold outside the country -18 million tons.
The grain market was affected by the financial crisis, prices for this product fell sharply, and its export became unprofitable, financially unprofitable. In January 2009, the ruble depreciated, the positions of Russian grain exporters strengthened, and it became profitable to sell for foreign currency.
Currently, the country's grain market has been reanimated, grain imports have been reduced to a minimum and significantlyexports increased, production volumes increased. On the international market, the Russian product is a huge success, especially in high demand in the Arab countries. Grain exports from Russia increased significantly in the period 2011-2012: the volume of exports abroad reached a record, amounting to 26.5 million tons.
It should be noted that the 2010-2011 season was dry, so they collected a small amount of the crop, which covered only the national needs of the country. The government has imposed restrictions on grain exports from Russia, fearing its shortage. This ban on the export of grain products to the world market was introduced from August 2010 and was valid until July 2011
In 2015-2016, wheat exports account for 76% of all grains. This is 27.5 million tons; in second place in terms of volume - corn - 15% - 5.3 million tons; third place - barley - 8%. 3 million tons exported.
Geography of Russian grain exports
The main consumers of grain from Russia are Iran, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Italy, Israel, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Greece. Italy is the main buyer of Russian wheat.
