In Crimea, grain is being sold below cost: farmers are refusing to plant

In the temporarily occupied Crimea, farmers are facing difficulties selling this year’s grain harvest. Due to low purchase prices, logistical problems, and a lack of storage capacity, farmers risk incurring significant losses.

This is reported by Krym.Realii.

According to Denis Kratyuk, the Russian-appointed “Minister of Agriculture of Crimea,” the peninsula plans to harvest over two million metric tons of grain this year. At the same time, demand has been insufficient, and local grain elevators can only accommodate a portion of the harvest.

One Crimean agronomist told Krym.Realii that wholesale buyers are offering prices for grain that are below cost. As a result, farmers are forced to store their harvest, incurring additional expenses.

Oleg Zubkov, the owner of one of the large agricultural enterprises in the Belogorsk District, stated that the cost of producing one kilogram of wheat this year is 12–15 rubles, while it is sometimes possible to sell it for only 10 rubles. He considers a price of about 20 rubles to be fair.

The situation is further complicated by a fuel shortage, logistical problems, and regular power outages, which bring grain elevators to a standstill.

The occupation-era “Ministry of Agriculture” acknowledges the problem and promises support to farmers—specifically, funding for logistics, loan extensions, and adjustments to lease payments.

According to one Crimean farmer, due to the current situation, some farmers are already refusing to plant winter crops because they see no economic rationale for continuing production.

Андрій Колісніченко