Russia plans to increase rice production to 2 million tons, focusing on expanding areas in the Primorsky Krai region.

The Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation has confirmed a strategy to increase rice production to 2 million tons in the near future. Expanding cultivated areas in the Primorsky Krai will be one of the measures to achieve this goal, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Russia Andrey Razin, as reported by the news agency "Finmarket."

"Currently, we produce from 1 to 1.2 million tons of rice, but our goal in the foreseeable future is to reach 2 million tons. Primorsky Krai is the second largest region allocated for rice cultivation, right after the Krasnodar Krai. We have the potential to double the acreage by additionally introducing 15 thousand hectares. Furthermore, we have the opportunity to create the necessary infrastructure, such as drainage canals," emphasized the deputy minister.

Andrey Razin also noted that rice has significant export potential.

"Rice is a high-quality export product with great potential. It appears that traditional rice exporters have been reducing their export volumes in recent years, providing us with good opportunities to increase our share in international markets," he emphasized.