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Vinay Shukla Moscow, Jul 19 (PTI) Unprecedented heat wave and drought in major agro regions of Russia could lead to grave social and economic consequences and would aggravate the economic crisis in the country, top experts have warned. The government has imposed economic emergency in 17 major grain and vegetable producing regions as the mercury touched 40 degree Celsius mark in the worst ever drought since 1972. Specialists already say that the current summer temperatures in the country are the highest in 130 years. "Abnormal heat could lead not only the drop in the grain harvest but also more serious consequences extending far beyond the agriculture sector and would aggravate the economic crisis," warns Boris Kagarlitsky, the Director of Institute of Globalisation and Social Movements (IGSO). "The government''s attempts to control food prices would lead to the shrinking of market. Black market and possible growth of grain moving out of the regions would lead to popular discontent," Kagarlitsky was quoted as saying by ''Noviye Izvestia'' daily. Meanwhile, a senior government official has conceded that the drought in Central and South Russia may spur inflation and rise in the food prices. "We should assess the scale of the drought. If the grain harvest amounts to 80-85 million tonnes, quite an optimistic assessment, it should have no significant impact on inflation," said Andrei Klepach, the Deputy Economic Minister. "If the harvest is lower, it will not affect the August figures, but will do so from September to November," he was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti. The Russian Grain Union has reduced its 2010 grain forecast to 81.5-85 million tonnes from 85 million tonnes, leaving its export forecast unchanged at 20 million tonnes. With mercury stuck at 30 degrees Celsius and above in Moscow for six-weeks in a row, in regions south of the capital it is hovering around 40 degrees, scorching the scanty growth on the parched fields. .
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