The significant growth in the harvested production of grain was affected not only by the increase of area sowed with the crops (by 17,200 hectares or 2.6 percent more than in 2014), but also by a significant growth of the average yield per one hectare of sowing.
As a result of an improved technological process of raising crops, selection of highly productive and of higher quality of grain and very favorable climatic conditions, the average productivity of grain increased from 34.0 quintals in 2014 to 44.9 quintals in 2015, that is the highest productivity in the history of Latvia. In 2008, for example, for the first time the productivity of grain exceeded 30 quintals from a hectare, but only in last four years it is above 30 quintals.
The growth of the productivity of grain was observed in all regions of Latvia. In Zemgale, the average productivity of grain reached 52.9 quintals from a hectare and 35.3 percent of the total harvested grain in Latvia were obtained. In Kurzeme, the average productivity of grain reached 44.7 quintals, in Vidzeme – 39.5 quintals, in Latgale – 37 quintals.
The purchase of grain grown in Latvia significantly increased – in 2015 it was 2.56 million tons (by 617,500 tons or 31.7 percent more than in 2014), that is the greatest purchase of grain in the history of Latvia. In turn, the average purchase price of grain in 2015 was the lowest in the last five years (EUR 143.43 per ton).
Wheat accounted for 80.5 percent of the total amount of purchased grain (in 2014 – 77.6 percent). Its purchase increased by 552,300 tons or 36.6 percent, of which food wheat – by 314,900 tons or 32.1 percent. The purchase of rye also increased – by 59,000 tons or 58.7 percent, of which food rye – by 37,800 tons or 45.7 percent.
As compared to 2014, exports of grain also significantly increased. In 2015, 1.792 million tons of wheat and meslin were exported that is by 416,000 or 30.2 percent more than in 2014. Exports of rye grew by 45,000 tons or 68.8 percent as compared to the previous year. Like in 2014, also in 2015, the export volume includes grain from the yield of the previous year.
