Kuban plans to sow with rice about 135.3 thousand hectares, which is fully consistent with the level of last year. Sowing it is planned to be completed on May fifteenth. Recall that last year the gross fee amounted to 836.7 thousand tons, and rice yields amounted to 62 centners per hectare, which is actually the level of rice -producing European countries. It is worth noting that the yield of the yield of more than 62 centners per hectare has been held for several years, even despite the fact that the conditions for growing rice are more favorable in other European countries. Recall that the production of rice enterprises of the Kuban is more than 350 thousand. tons per year, which allows exports to Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan and other countries. Last year, the import of rice cereal was 147.8 thousand. tons. This year it is planned to develop 316.4 thousand. tons of rice by improving equipment, improving product quality, as well as expanding the assortment. However, according to experts, the entry of the Russian Federation to the WTO can leave a negative imprint on Kuban production, since customs tariffs for cheaper rice from Asia will be significantly reduced. “The decrease in customs tariffs for the import of rice will mean that the country will begin the import of cheap Asian rice in the country. For the Kuban, the consequences can be not only social, but also economic, ”says Mikhail Kricheli, Director of the Development of Roszers Union.“Kuban, at the moment, produces more than eighty percent of rice cereal, and a decrease in tariffs for the import of this culture will have extremely serious consequences. Alexander Tkachev, the governor of the Krasnodar Territory, was set the task of increasing the production of a million tons of rice by 2018, and we will undoubtedly cope with it. However, a decrease in customs tariffs will make absolutely uncompetitive Kuban products even in the domestic market. Naturally, we will defend our positions with all our means, ”says Evgeny Gromyko, vice -governor of the agricultural sector.
