RIGA, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Latvia's grain yield is likely to be some 40 percent smaller than that of last year, especially in western parts of the Baltic country, largely due to this year's drought, local media reported on Thursday.
According to Juris Lazdins, chairman of the Latvian farmers' association, grain yields are expected to differ by regions, with the poorest harvest projected in the western Latvian region of Kurzeme.
Central Latvian region of Zemgale, which traditionally is regarded as Latvia's breadbasket, the grain yield is likely to shrink by 20 to 50 percent from last year.
In eastern Latvia, the harvest might be 20 to 30 percent lower than last year, the head of the farmer's association said.
"We also have good reasons for this crop failure -- last year's floods and this year's drought," Lazdins said.
He added that consumers are unlikely to feel any effects from the poor grain harvest as it will probably leave no significant impact on flour and bread prices.
The Latvian Agriculture Ministry's data also shows that the unusually dry and hot weather that prevailed in Latvia from April through June this year will seriously reduce the crop yield, with the wheat output expected to drop 9 percent from 2017.
