For several years, food prices have been rising in Russia, forcing the population to purchase ever cheaper products (Profile.ru, September 20). The government has tried to rein in prices, while avoiding having those top-down interventions lead to the empty store shelves that were a feature of Soviet times—a sight that would surely constitute a serious political problem if it were to appear again (Free Press, August 1). However, a combination of two larger factors makes it likely that some shelves will, indeed, be bare in the coming months. First, as a result of climate change, Russian farmers have faced flooding in some food-growing regions and drought in others, sending the production of bread and potatoes down. Second, authorities face difficulties in restraining price increases or purchasing additional supplies abroad because of the large number of players in the food chain, declining production in many countries and the weakness of the ruble. As a result, Russian experts warn, domestic consumers will need to tighten their belts. Yet if Russians cannot find enough traditional base staples like bread and potatoes, they will become angrier and lash out at their rulers.
Crop Failures in Russia Point to Serious Shortages of Bread and Potatoes Ahead – Jamestown