Russian farmers would have to buy about 1.5 million tonnes of feed grain to cover the deficit caused by drought this year, the Agriculture ministry said on Tuesday. All regions of the country, excluding the Central region, see a deficit of feed grain at the moment, the ministry was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying. It did not specify if Russia would be able to cover the required amount of feed grain from domestic stocks.

Russia, historically the world's number three wheat exporter, was hit by hot and dry weather this year, which cut its wheat harvest by a third and raised fears of a possible spring deficit. The ministry did not specify if a deficit of food grains, including milling wheat, was possible.

Copyright Reuters, 2012