VLADIVOSTOK, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Russia expects the second-largest grain harvest in history by the end of this year, having reaped more than 151 million tons, including almost 99 million tons of wheat, Russia's Minister of Agriculture Dmitry Patrushev said on Tuesday.
"The harvest has been collected from almost 98 percent of the areas planting grain and leguminous crops," Patrushev said.
"We understand that in 2023 we will get the second-largest harvest in the history of Russia," he added.
Patrushev said that this will not only fully meet domestic needs, but also provide an opportunity to send record volumes of grain to foreign partners.
"According to the plans, this is more than 65 million tons for the season," he said.
Patrushev highlighted a significant increase in the production of such socially significant crops as rice and buckwheat. The gross harvest of rice exceeds 1.1 million tons, up by 24 percent from last year. ■
