Rice production in Russia

There are two fundamentally different kinds of rice grown in the world - long hard Indica and soft round Japonica. They do not cross with each other and are further divided into many varieties and species. Everything grown in Russia is of the Japonica type.

Attempts to get the first harvest were made back in 1929. But the history of rice growing begins in the 70–80s of the last century. Then the first rice fields were planted and irrigation systems were built. In the 1990s, a third of the cultivated areas fell into neglect, and yields in the remaining areas fell by half. The industry began to recover in the 2000s and today continues to develop at an active pace.

Table of Contents

• Climatic conditions for growing
• Production technologies
• Main producing regions

• Krasnodar Territory
• Republic of Dagestan
• Rostov Region
• Republic of Kalmykia
• Chechen Republic
• Astrakhan Region
• Primorye Territory

• Rice harvest in 2023

Climatic conditions for growing

Rice can only grow if there is enough sunlight and heat. The average daily temperature should not be lower than +25…+30 °C. With this indicator, the plant fully develops and forms high-quality grain. But the number of cold days should be minimal.

The plant needs sufficient sunlight for photosynthesis to occur. The duration of daylight hours for it should be at least 12 hours. For this reason, rice is not planted in shaded areas and regions with short days.

Similar weather is observed primarily in the Krasnodar Territory. There is a lot of sun, mild winters and high temperatures in the summer season. The Rostov Region and the Stavropol Territory are close to it in terms of conditions.

Humidity is important for the crop. It is desirable for it to be high. As a rule, it is maintained using irrigation systems. Planting during the rainy season and using flood fields is also in practice.

Particular attention is paid to the soil. It should have good water-holding capacity with sufficient voids for moisture to seep through. At the same time, the soil should drain excess liquid, which will avoid leaching of nutrients and flooding. Rice plants like the soil to be rich in potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, and grow well in fertile fields.

It is especially important that the soil has optimal mechanical properties and stability. The crop has a weak root system, and this can lead to collapse when watered.

Did you know? In Russia, they consume up to 4.3 kg of rice per person per year. And buckwheat takes only the second place with its 4.1 kg.

Production technologies

Rice crop requires regular irrigation, so RIS - rice irrigation systems - are built for its cultivation. Thus, in the Krasnodar Territory, they occupy 234,000 hectares with a cultivated area of 62% of the total in the country.

Planting, care and harvesting are mechanized, since it is an intensive crop in Russia. Using a mineral fertilizer spreader, the seeds are sown and then smoothed down. After that, the field is flooded with water until the first sprouts appear. These are the so-called rice bays where rice grows with constant flooding until ripening. In addition, all processing and fertilization are carried out using small aircraft. Before the harvesting campaign at the end of August - beginning of September, all water is drained. This is the most common method of growing crops throughout the world, and 90% of the harvest is obtained this way.

Although, in recent years, farmers have been trying to develop dry fields, which are located in areas with high rainfall and do not require artificial irrigation. However, so far only rice bays demonstrate high yields of 12–14 tons per hectare.

Main producing regions

Several regions are engaged in rice cultivation in the country, but only a few are among the leaders.

Krasnodar Territory

It is considered the main place for rice cultivation. There is a lot of land here that is practically unsuitable for other plants - flooded, swampy, saline. And it is they that are dedicated to sowing. Most of them are located in the Krasnoarmeysky and Slavyansky districts - 70% of all sown areas are concentrated here.

Irrigated rice systems are located on 2,250 thousand hectares, over 100 thousand hectares are allocated for crops. Selection has been systematically carried out since 1932, thanks to which such popular varieties as “Kuban”, “Dubovsky”, “Krasnodarsky” appeared.

However, today, other, even better varieties grow here:

• "liman" is a mid-season variety with a growing season of 14 days. It grows up to 90 cm, is resistant to bending, sprouts overcome the aquatic environment well. Yield reaches 5–8 t/ha;
• "rapan" - middle-late, ripening in 120 days. Under favorable conditions it gives a large industrial yield. Today it occupies 30% of all fields in the Krasnodar Territory;
• "amber" and "regul" - can grow on less fertile soil for 115–118 days. They are distinguished by intensive tillering and stem resistance;
• "novator" is one of the preferred varieties due to its short ripening period. The growing season is up to 100 days; it can grow in saline areas. It is resistant to bending and intensively increases green mass.

In general, the entire Krasnodar Territory is characterized by non-traditional technology for growing rice. Areas for sowing are not used for several years in a row. Crop rotation is observed: after 1–2 years, the rice field is sown with soybeans or wheat. In this way, damage to rice crops by pests is prevented and the overall industrial yield is increased.

Republic of Dagestan

It ranks 2nd after the Krasnodar Territory. The main part of the fields is located in the Kizlyar district due to the clay soil, which retains moisture well.

In Dagestan, as in the Krasnodar Territory, rice is grown in rice bays. A total of 2,850 hectares are allocated for crops, which make it possible to obtain up to 20 thousand tons of crops for the needs of the domestic market and export.

Priority was given to only one variety, "regul", since only it is suitable for local climatic conditions. The grain is sown in early May and harvested 125 days later.

Rostov Region

Rice cultivation is carried out here in several districts at once: Proletarsky, Veselovsky, Volgodonsky, Martynovsky, Bagaevsky and Semikarakorsky. The volumes are low, but another thing is important - this rice has excellent taste.

It grows on rice bays, for which 15 thousand hectares of land are allocated, with sprinkling machines being used. As a rule, the soils are poorly drained and saline, which determines the use of only early ripening varieties. Productive and resistant to bending varieties are actively cultivated:

• "razdolny" - ripens in 120 days, is characterized by stunting and carries up to 130 grains of 3-4 grams;
• "golden" – was zoned specifically for the Rostov region, demonstrates resistance to shedding and bending, is cold-resistant and is not afraid of saline soils;
• "contact" - early ripening, harvesting can be done in 104–107 days. The variety is low-growing with high-quality grain, which is used for the production of cereals. Up to 8 tons are harvested from 1 hectare;
• "boyar" - ripens in 90–115 days. Compact plant with semicircular spindle-shaped grains. Industrial yield reaches 7.7 t/ha;
• "privolny" - distinguished by optimal technological and culinary properties, unpretentious to the concentration of fertilizers.

Republic of Kalmykia

Today it is the northernmost territory of Russia, where experiments in rice cultivation began. Now there are 5 farms involved in rice cultivation in the Oktyabrsky district. However, without modern irrigation systems, these semi-desert zones pose high risks for agriculture.

At the moment, up to 1800 hectares are sown, but the level of profitability remains low - 55 centners per 1 hectare. This result is shown by only one variety, which is adapted to the existing climate - "big tsaryn". It ripens in 120 days and is not afraid of weather changes, is resistant to diseases and pests.

Chechen Republic

Rice has been cultivated in Chechnya since the 60s of the last century. 2,800 hectares have been allocated for it. Up to 7,800 tons of grain are harvested from rice bays in the Gudermes and Shelkovsky regions. Preference is given to the following varieties:

• "partner" - zoned for the North Caucasus region. It has slight pubescence, a short and strong stem with white semi-spindle-shaped grains. It ripens in 110 days and has high taste characteristics;
• "favorite" - distinguished by the presence of a long stem up to 100 cm and weakly pubescent leaves. It is resistant to shedding and bending, grows under different irrigation modes and produces up to 66.5 centners per hectare.

Astrakhan Region

The fields have been cultivated since the 1930s. The total cultivated area reaches 25 thousand hectares, which belong to 16 farms. Rice cultivation is based on several varieties. Thus, "victoria" produces up to 62 c/ha and ripens in 120 days, “Volgogradsky” is undemanding to the water regime and has high productivity. Also low, up to 90 cm "contact" is sown, with oval-shaped grains which have the highest glassiness index - 94.3%. No less common is the “Azovsky” variety, which belongs to the middle-early varieties and provides an industrial yield of 72 c/ha.

Primorye Territory

Rice farming began here in 1918. 45,157 hectares are allocated for plantations, each rice bay occupies up to 6.5 hectares. High yields make it possible not only to provide residents of the Far East with high-quality cereals, but also to export. The list of varieties includes "primorsky 29" with a growing season of up to 105 days, shatter-resistant "lugovoy', early-ripening "cascade", "dubrava" with valuable grain of short length and semi-spindle shape.

Rice harvest in 2023

Thanks to the efforts of farmers, over 1.1 million tons of rice were harvested this year. And this is a quarter more than last year’s figures, largely due to the fact that the sown area increased to 192 thousand hectares. Therefore, the internal needs of the market will be more than satisfied. It is possible that rice farmers will ask to lift the export ban, which was extended until December 31 this year.

At the moment, we can safely say that the 2020–2022 trend of reducing rice fields to 174 thousand hectares has been overcome. The industry has set a course for growth and active development. At the same time, prices for cereals remain at a stable level and even show a decrease of 3.1% compared to 0.1% last year.