Mr Gordeyev said that in 2002 Russia’s agriculture suffered 3.8 billion roubles in damage from natural disasters.
Before May 1, he said, it was planned to send 1.3 billion roubles to the areas hit and another 2.5 billion roubles over the course of the month.
Mr Gordeyev said that on April 30 he was leaving for the United States to discuss the observance of Russian veterinary and sanitary rules by American suppliers and also prospects for resuming the work of the ministerial-level Bilateral Agro-Business Commission.