MOSCOW, September 12 (RIA Novosti) - The State Duma (Russia's lower house of parliament) committee on agriculture said high gasoline and diesel prices were making the agricultural industry unprofitable.
Nikolai Kharitonov, the deputy head of the committee, said, "Farmers estimate there is no use working the land. The expenses in 2004-2005 in the agricultural industry practically depreciated."
He said 17 million workers in the agricultural industry lived below the poverty line. The rise in fuel prices resulted in the rise in prices of products as well as housing and public utilities services, Kharitonov said.
The price of diesel fuel from August 29 to September 5 increased by 3%-6% in various regions of Russia, he added.
