The main characteristics of the development of crop production in Russia in the transitional period

摘要

Crop production accounted for 43.4% of total Russian agricultural production in 1998, compared with 35.9% in 1990. This shift reflects the fact that, although crop production fell between 1990 and 1997, this decline was less rapid than the decline in animal production. Harvests of all basic crops by cooperatives have fallen, while the importance of individual farms in crop production has increased. In 1998 individual farms grew >90% of potatoes, fruit and berries, approximately 80% of vegetables, and around 50% of feed root crops. Large-scale farms remain the main producers of grain and leguminous crops, long-stemmed flax, sugarbeet and sunflowers. The amount of land that is actually being used for agricultural production has fallen. The quality of agricultural land has also declined; this is attributed to acceleration of erosion as a result of reduced cultivation, a reduction in the application of mineral and organic fertilizers, and low levels of state support for improving soil fertility. Theprofitability of all types of crop production has fallen. Yields of basic crops are continuing to decline, and are significantly lower than in countries with developed agricultural sectors. The importance to crop production of government subsidies is also discussed, together with factors that have affected investment in the sector since 1990.