January 12, 2011

Ukrainian crop harvest likely to increase this year

Ukraine's grain harvest is likely to increase this year, with about 45 million tonnes gathered as crops are developing well, said Oleksandr Demydov, head of plant cultivation at the agriculture ministry.

Some 55% of winter grain crops are in good condition, between 30%-35% are deemed satisfactory, and the remaining plants are weak, Demydov told reporters today in Kiev. That means crops are in better shape than a year earlier, he added.

The ministry expects the total area under grains, including winter and spring plants, to be 15.6 million hectares (38.5 million acres), or 500,000 hectares more than a year earlier, the official said. Spring grains will be planted across 7.5 million hectares which is 300,000 more hectares than last year, according to the ministry's estimates. Corn and barley will have bigger planted areas.

Farmers will apply 10%-15 % more fertilizer for the spring plants than a year earlier, Demydov said.

Ukraine exported 6.7 million tonnes of grain since July 1, of which 1.5 million tonnes was shipped within export quotas introduced in October and extended in December, according to the official.