Agriculture Minister: Russia to Harvest about 70 Million Tonnes of Grain in 2003

The government's Department of Information quoted Alexei Gordeyev, Russia's Minister of Agriculture as saying, at a meeting in Nizhny Novgorod, that Russia should harvest about 70 million tonnes of grain in 2003, as compared with 86.5 million tonnes in 2002. The minister said that the government intended to create a system of insuring and reinsuring harvest. Supposedly, 2 or 3 insurance operators will be used for the purpose, allowing to minimise premiums and standardise rules. Mr. Gordeyev said that the system will be formed with the use of the experience of Western countries where not only harvest but also grain sales are insured.