The pea crop in Russia has grown to a historical maximum, but forecasts for 2024 are not so optimistic, as shown in a research report.

Pea Cultivation Areas in Russia

According to Rosstat, preliminary estimates indicate that in 2024, the pea cultivation areas in Russia reached 2,220.8 thousand hectares, which is 11.4% (227.4 thousand hectares) more than in 2023.

Total Pea Harvest in Russia

Results for 2023: According to Rosstat, the total pea harvest in Russia in 2023 reached 4,716.9 thousand tons, which is 30.4% (1,100.8 thousand tons) more than in 2022. This is the highest figure for the entire period under study (since 1990). Over the past 5 years, productivity has increased 2.0 times (by 2,412.5 thousand tons), and over the past 10 years, it has increased 3.5 times (by 3,367.3 thousand tons).

Forecast for 2024: According to the AB Center forecast, the pea harvest in Russia in 2024 is expected to reach 4,806.0 thousand tons, which is 1.9% (89.1 thousand tons) higher than the results of 2023.

The growth in productivity will be insignificant compared to the increase in sown areas. This is due to a decrease in productivity, which will be slightly lower than last year's values and will be close to the average values of the past 5 years.

This forecast represents an optimistic scenario. There is a possibility that after the harvest, it will be revealed that productivity has decreased more significantly, and the total harvest in 2024 will be lower compared to 2023.

In different production regions in 2024, different trends in productivity are observed. However, in most key producing regions, a decrease in indicators is noted. This information is confirmed by statistics on harvest provided by regional agricultural management authorities and the media.

For example, according to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Stavropol region, by the end of the harvesting campaign, the pea harvest volume in the region reached 448.7 thousand tons with an average yield of 19.9 c/ha. In 2023, Stavropol region harvested 665.9 thousand tons with an average yield of 29.8 c/ha.

The Ministry of Agriculture of the Rostov region does not provide exact data on peas. However, it is reported that due to spring frosts and drought this year, the yield of grain and leguminous crops decreased by 19% compared to the 5-year average; productivity decreased by 15%.

In the Krasnodar region, there is no data on the harvest, but the productivity indicators are available, with a yield of 24.1 c/ha. In 2023, according to Rosstat, the indicator was 36.2 c/ha. Recall that last year, the Stavropol region, Rostov region, and Krasnodar region led in pea harvest volume in the country.

In some regions of the Central Federal District, a decrease in productivity is also observed. For example, in the Tambov region, the leader in pea harvest in the Central Federal District in 2023, as of August 12, it was reported that the harvested pea volume reached 124.6 thousand tons from an area of 56.2 thousand hectares with an average yield of 22.2 c/ha. In 2023, the indicators were significantly higher, with a yield of 36.5 c/ha and a total harvest of 214.6 thousand tons.

However, in some regions of the Volga Federal District, pea productivity is higher. In Tatarstan, productivity is 17.9 c/ha compared to 15.8 c/ha last year. In Udmurtia, it is 20.6 c/ha compared to 16.2 c/ha the previous year.

Productivity has also increased in Siberia. In the Novosibirsk region, peas were harvested from an area of 92.5 thousand hectares, 61.1% complete, with a total yield of 142.5 thousand tons at a yield of 15.7 c/ha. In 2023, the yield was 14.3 c/ha.

As for the Altai region, the productivity here corresponds to the 2022 figures. In 2022, it was 22.0 c/ha, in 2023 it dropped to 16.3 c/ha. Data for the Altai region are not published, but as of September 10, 2024, the yield in different areas of the region looked as follows: Smolensky - 26 c/ha, Topchikhinsky - 24 c/ha, Zalesovsky - 23.6 c/ha, Rubtsovsky - 22.2 c/ha, Ust-Pristan - 22.2 c/ha, Ust-Kalmansky - 21.9 c/ha, Bystroistoksky - 21.4 c/ha, Sovetsky - 21.3 c/ha, Zonalny - 21 c/ha, Kalmansky - 20.7 c/ha, Kosikhinsky - 20.6 c/ha.

In the Omsk region, which is also a significant pea-producing region, as of September 10, 2024, due to rains, the harvesting campaign is lagging behind by 15-20%. Productivity remains at a relatively high level, but there may be issues with grain quality. Data on peas are not provided, but the overall indicators for grain and leguminous crops are 256 thousand hectares with a yield of 18 c/ha. In 2023, the yield was 10.5 c/ha.

For more details, you can visit: Marketing Research of the Russian Pea Market (2024)