May 17, 2012

Ukraine's spring plantings reach over 10 million hectares

Ukraine planted spring crops over 10.8 million hectares as of May 3, 21.5% more compared with the same date of the previous year, reported State Statistics Committee.

At the same time, according to its figures, grains and legumes were sown throughout 2.9 million hectares, down 8,1% than last year, including barley - 2.1 million hectares (down by 7.6%) .

Crops of sugar beet decreased by 12.2% compared with the last year, which amounted to 434,000 hectares.

At the same time, agricultural farms have expanded the areas under corn - in 1.5 times as compared with the last year (to nearly 1.9 million ha), sunflower - by 31.5% (to 1.99 million hectares).

As reported, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food forecasts the total grain wedge (including winter and spring crops) in 2012 at 15.8 million hectares, almost the same level as in 2011.