Head of Tatarstan Ministry of Agriculture and Food: Tatarstan agricultural industry needs rains

On September 3, speaking at a meeting at Tatarstan Government House, Tatarstan Minister of Agriculture and Food Marat Akhmetov said that agricultural industry of the republic needs more rains now.

"It would be just in time to get 30-40 mm of productive moisture throughout Tatarstan, first of all the winter wheat and sugar beets need that. This would also facilitate soil handling operations, since the soil is very firm now," he stressed.

Agricultural enterprises are suffering losses because of the heat that slowed down the growth of sugar beet in August and plows and equipment are easily damaged because the soil is too tight, he said.