MOSCOW (Commodity Online) : Facing unprecedented drought conditions, Russia said its grain harvest might fall to 72-78 million tones this year.

According to Russian Grain Union, in the worst case, the country will harvest only 72 million tons and export 11 million tons, while reserve stocks will amount to 10.4-14.4 million tons.

The drought has destroyed crops on an area of 10 million hectares or 20 percent of Russia's cultivated land.

Russia's 2009 harvest totalled 97 million tons. Grain imports will amount to just 0.4 million tons, the Union said.

In the cautiously optimistic scenario, the harvest will amount to 75 million tons and exports to 14 million tons, while reserves will total 10.4-14.4 million tons, it said.

In the best case, Russia could harvest 78 million tons of grain and export 19.5 million tons while reserves will stand at 7.9-11.9 million tons.

With domestic consumption of 71-75 million tons and reserve stocks of 24 million tons as of July 1, Russia's predicted grain harvest in 2010 will suffice to meet the country's grain needs, and there were no grounds for bread price hikes in Russia, analysts said

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