Foreign newsRussian farmers face bleak future after devaluation

RUSSIAN farmers face a bleak future as the Rouble sinks on world currency market.

The Guardian reports that provincial traders would normally be out selling in Moscow but the currency crisis has kept them at home. It is better to hold on to goods, rather than buy and sell, until prices settle.

This summers large rainfall in several regions has already devastated the private potato crops. Supplies are not expected to last the winter.

Russias provincial poor are expected to suffer even more as inflation grips the whole economy. There is speculation that price controls will have to be introduced if social unrest rises.

• The Times 28/08/98 page 1, page 19, 27
• The Independent 28/08/98 page 1, page 3, page 13, page 15 (Outlook)
• Financial Times 28/08/98 page 1, page 2, page 3, page 14, page 14 (Personal View), page 15, page 16 (Lex), page 17
• The Guardian 28/08/98 page 1, page 4, page 5, page 15 (Analysis), page 16, page 17 (Leader), page 25
• The Daily Telegraph 28/08/98 page 1, page 15, page 26, page 31, page 33
• The Herald 28/08/98 page 1, page 12, page 19