January 6, 2012
As the country continues to struggle with adverse weather conditions, Ukraine's winter grain production may be increased by up to 40% through careful choices over sowing areas for wheat, according to a meteorology expert.
Nikolai Kulbida, head of the Hydrometeorological Centre of Ukraine, said the optimum placement of crops could increase harvested volumes by 20-40%, even without technology changes, after recent drought caused deterioration in planting and growing conditions.
However, Kulbida conceded that permanently higher temperatures would mean the country will face a significant increase in droughts and worsening conditions for agricultural production in future, the Ukrainian Grain Association said Thursday (Jan 5).
Risk manager Agritel said the Ukrainian government has reaffirmed its plans to increase inventories in anticipation of potentially significant winter losses, with cereal production in 2012-13 estimated at 56.4 million tonnes, of which 22.4 million tonnes are winter wheat.
It added that no change in the weather is anticipated in coming days and it should remain wet and unusually warm for the season.
Another risk manager Offre & Demande Agricole said farmers in Ukraine and across the Black Sea region will be hoping that conditions remain warm to help winter crops recover their normal development rates.
It added that current precipitation levels are allowing soil water content to return to normal levels after a dry autumn.