Russian Federation

General Information

· Main climates: Boreal, Temperate Continental

· Total land area: 1 707 540 000 ha

· Internal renewable water resources: 4 030 km³

· Incoming water flow: 227 km³

· GNP per capita, 1998: PPP$ -

· Main food consumed:

· Rice supply, 1999: 8.2 kg paddy/capita/year

Basic Statistics

Producing Zones and Cropping Seasons

Rice is cultivated mostly in the areas near by the Black Sea and Ukraine. The following table shows the harvested areas from different producing zones.

Rice can be grown only once a year.

Production Practices

Rice is planted only under irrigated conditions, in medium to large and highly mechanised farms. The conditions of the farm equipment, however, have been deteriorating. Direct seeding by broadcasting is the popular method of crop establishment. In the past, rice crops are applied with adequate rate of fertilizers and other agro-chemicals for crop protection. Rice varieties belong to japonica subspecies.

Constraints and Issues of Sustainable Production

There are several constraints to sustainable rice production in Portugal. Followings are the major:

• Low temperature and short season

• High production costs

• Lack of research and extension support

• Salinity in rice soil

Sustainable rice production requires appropriate policy to provide support to farmers regarding input supply and provision of services for the maintenance and improvement of farm equipment. The opening of rice market under WTO would also have important effect on production.

Research and Development Institutes

· Interbranch State Association "RIS", 353204 Krasnodar, P.O. Belozernoe, Russia; Tel (8612) 566396; Fax (8612) 509324.

· All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources 44, Bolshaya Morskaya Street 190000 St. Petersburg Phone: (812) 314-4848 Telex: 871 121414 ALEX Fax: (7-812) 311-8762