In Penza region, a state of emergency has been introduced due to the destruction of crops on 100 hectares caused by frost. Compensation and flexible conditions are provided for farmers.

Starting from May 16, the Penza region will introduce a state of emergency due to the destruction of crops on an area of more than 100 hectares because of frosts. This decision was made by the acting Governor Sergey Fedotov.

According to the decree published on the government's website of the region, from May 16 until further notice, a state of emergency will be introduced for the authorities and forces of the Penza territorial subsystem of the unified state system for prevention and liquidation of emergencies.

According to the decree, the introduction of the state of emergency is necessary due to the destruction of agricultural crops on an area of more than 100 hectares due to frosts. This will provide compensation to agricultural producers in accordance with insurance contracts. In addition, loan and leasing contracts will be concluded on more flexible terms, as reported by the Ministry of Agriculture press service.

In the press service of the deputy chairman of the government of the Penza region, Minister of Agriculture Roman Kalentyev, his words are quoted stating that "the majority of winter and spring crops have not suffered, but the temperature drop has caused damage to certain crop areas." Preliminarily, about 20 thousand hectares of agricultural crop plantations were affected by frosts, which is 1.3% of the total sown area. The extent of the damage is being specified. The region has a sufficient supply of seed material for restoring the damage, and agricultural producers have already started reseeding the lost crops.

According to forecasts, the Penza region is expected to experience an orange level of weather hazard, with air and soil frost persisting at -5°C at night on May 16-17.

Currently, the spring sowing of spring crops continues in the Penza region. As of May 15, sowing was carried out on an area of 695 thousand hectares, which is 64% of the planned target. In total, this year it is planned to sow spring crops on an area of about one million hectares. Winter crops cover approximately 380 thousand hectares.