Production of lentils in the Penza region is planned to increase in five years, nearly four times - from 13 thousand tons to 50 thousand tons. This was reported by TASS Deputy Chairman of the government - Minister of agriculture of the region Andrey Burlakov.

"At the end of this year's crop of lentils in the Penza region amounted to 13 thousand tons. The crops will grow. We have not yet brought to the end the structure of sown areas, but in 2018 will receive, as a minimum, expansion of 30%. The potential for the next five years we have to produce 50 thousand tons of lentils per year," - said boatmen.

According to him, in 2017 the region began to grow lentils and chickpeas (the volume of production in 2017 - 2 thousand tons) in connection with their demand abroad. This year under these crops was allotted 10 hectares of land.

Burlakov said that the market value of 1 ton of lentils grown in the region, up to 18-20 thousand rubles, and chickpeas - to 40-45 thousand, whereas the price of the Penza grain this year amounted to only 4-5 thousand rubles.

"If we talk about exports over long distances, more profitable for us to supply the product with high value to transport costs due to long transportation accounted for a smaller share in its cost," the Minister added.

The bulk of exports of lentils and chickpeas grown in the Penza region, has in Turkey and Iran.

"There is interest from buyers in Eastern and Western Europe. For Turkey we grow red lentils, for Europe - green. Widespread in Russia, brown lentils there, do not eat," - said boatmen.

In addition, the plans of the regional Ministry of agriculture to increase the average grain yield from 36 to 40 kg/ha (50 kg/ha in the Chernozem areas of the Penza region) in 2018 and run until 2035 to secure this result. The government of the Penza region plan to increase grain production in the long term, up to 3 million tons.

Photo: http://bagiraclub.ru