Immediately after arriving in the Republic of Tatarstan, the first deputy prime minister visited the agricultural firm Timerkhan in Naberezhniye Chelny, where he saw first hand the consequences of abnormally high temperatures for agricultural producers.

At a subsequent meeting with the republic's leaders and the heads of a number of farms affected by the drought, Mr Zubkov stated that "at present, 14 regions of Russia, including large regions such as Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Orenburg, Saratov, Samara and a number of others - have been affected by abnormally high temperatures and drought." The deputy prime minister added that another three regions have reported that they are experiencing similar problems.

Mr Zubkov also reported that according to preliminary estimates approximately nine million hectares of cultivated land had been affected by the drought.

At the same time, Mr Zubkov emphasised that the prime minister is continually monitoring the situation, and that methods for supporting agricultural producers hit by the drought would be discussed at the upcoming July 12 meeting of the Government Presidium.

"The main parameters for state support will be worked out for those who suffered from the abnormally high temperatures," he said.

Mr Zubkov also said that the Ministry of Agriculture has assembled a team reporting directly to the minister of agriculture to carry out an exhaustive analysis of the situation, in accordance with instructions from the government.

"The main goal is to not leave people in peril," said Mr Zubkov, emphasising the need for targeted support. He called upon everyone to "work intensively at both the federal and regional levels, as well as at the [agricultural] companies themselves."

Mr Zubkov also stated that there would be no problems meeting domestic grain demand: state-run and private farms in Russia hold grain reserves that, as of July 1, consisted of approximately 24 million tonnes of grain, including 9.5 million tonnes in the intervention fund. Moreover, the deputy prime minister reported that over five million tonnes of grain had been harvested this season.

"Effective management of these reserves will enable us to fully satisfy domestic demand and ensure stable prices," said Mr Zubkov. He added that this applies to both foodstuffs and forage fodder.