Agricultural produce at risk?
A Drought Nightmare for Kuban
As of June 8, the Krasnodar Center for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring has reported dangerous soil drought conditions in nine Kuban territories. These areas include Kanevsky, Yeisky, Shcherbinovsky, Staromininsky, Kushchevsky, Leningradsky, Krylovsky, Bryukhovetsky, and Primorsko-Akhtarsky districts.
Soil drought, a severe agrometeorological phenomenon, can severely impact the development of agricultural crops and future yields. The Krasnodar Center for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring has warned of its potential impact.
In late May, soil drought began to take hold in the northern Kuban districts, with moisture reserves under winter crops already at critical levels. The authorities in the Krasnodar region have considered the possibility of declaring an emergency situation regime in the northern districts due to the persistent drought.
Back in the past, ecologist Veniamin Golubitchenko pointed out that due to dry winters and springs, the Kuban region faces a 50% moisture deficit.
Recently, Anapa's Cypress Lake, along with the scorching heat, has dried up, breaking two temperature records.
Spotlight: Bryukhovetsky District, Yeisky District, Kanevsky District, Krylovsky District, Kushchevsky District, Leningradsky District, Primorsko-Akhtarsky District, Staromininsky District, and Shcherbinovsky District.
While the immediate impact of the drought may not be catastrophic, the risk remains high due to unfavorable weather conditions and the potential for winterkill. Notably, several regions, including some parts of Rostov and the annexed Crimea, have already declared emergencies due to severe drought and frosts, with over half a million hectares of crops already lost [1][5].
Russia's wheat production for 2025 is forecasted between 78.7 to 83 million metric tons, though these figures may theoretically be impacted by ongoing drought conditions [2][3][4]. Meanwhile, Russia's wheat exports are projected to decline by 24% in 2025, reflecting systemic challenges in the agribusiness sector [2].
These regions, primarily located in southern Russia, face a significant challenge due to the ongoing drought. Agricultural productivity and export capabilities are threatened, adding to ongoing struggles in Russian agribusiness, such as profitability concerns and geopolitical factors [2].
[1] https://en.interfax.ru/russia/718481/rostov-region-has-declared-emergency-over-drought-and-frost/[2] https://rievhe.ru/article/rossiya-smogla-vyproduit-do-80-millionov-tsentnerov-pshenitsy-v-2025-odnodruzhiya[3] https://www.usda.gov/oce/commodity/russia[4] https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/346482968.pdf[5] https://www.ibtimes.co.in/russia-region-declares-emergency-over-drought-frost-expected-damage-crops-315005
In response to the ongoing drought, the Environmental Science community is intensifying its focus on climate-change impacts on the Kuban region. The weather patterns, including the drought, pose a significant risk to the region's environmental-science and agricultural sectors, potentially impacting future crop yields and Russia's wheat production.
