The best of Russia Close-Up: Kuban’s fields of gold
Published 10 July, 2008, 04:59
Russians have a saying, used to describe how rich a land is. It goes “plant a stick into the soil and watch it grow into a tree”. Those words describe the Krasnodar region. It is known locally as Kuban, or ‘Russia's breadbasket’. Rye, wheat, corn, cherries, apples, honey, plums… You name it – it grows there.
Experts say its soil and mild climate make it an ideal place for agriculture. Hot summers, with average temperatures of 30 degrees centigrade, and winters with lows of minus 10 are typical for the region.
During the 1990s, due to a lack of financing and demand, many farms were depleted, and the raising of new stock practically ended. Many businesses were abandoned. But now they're rising from the ashes.
