Farmers in occupied Crimea may abandon grain production amid fuel shortages and power supply disruptions

Farmers in Russian-occupied Crimea are considering abandoning grain production as fuel shortages and electricity supply disruptions make it economically unprofitable. The prices offered for their 2026 harvest are below production costs.

This was reported by FortPost, a media outlet operating under the Russian occupation authorities.

“Crimea’s grain harvest increased by 62.4% this year to 1.8 mln tons. However, for many farmers, this is hardly a reason to celebrate: with production costs of 13–15 rubles per kilogram, they can sell their grain for no more than 10 rubles,” the publication reported.

According to Denis Kratyuk, the occupation-appointed agriculture minister, grain prices fluctuate regularly due to logistics-related factors.

The occupation authorities are advising farmers to switch to other crops, particularly sunflower seed, rapeseed, and flaxseed.

“We should focus on more profitable crops. We do not consume the amount of grain we produce every year, and we have a significant surplus. We need to consider whether it makes sense to produce so much grain and deal with large-scale transportation logistics. There are more attractive crops that could offer good prices with relatively small volumes,” Kratyuk explained.

Tags: grain, margin, Crimea