February 17, 2012

Ukraine's Poltava region forecasts five million tonnes grain output in 2012

Volodymyr Zamykula, deputy head of Poltava regional state administration, told journalists that the region predicts about five million tonnes of gross grain yield in 2012.

"We have to set a five-million record-breaking grain production," he noted.

Agricultural enterprises are expected to create appropriate material ad technical basis for timely spring field works during the first quarter 2012, including re-sowing of lost winter crops, Zamykula said.

To boost the harvest agricultural enterprises should optimise the structure of sown areas, improve farming standards, and use of modern agricultural technology. According to the regional administration department of agro-industrial development, the region plans to grow 2.7 million tonnes of sugar beet, about 850,000 tonnes of potatoes, 450,000 tonnes of vegetables, as well as to extend corn and soy sowing areas. Zamykula stressed agrarians plan to plant 1.6 million hectares in spring.

As Ukrainian News reported, Poltava region in April 2011 predicted to harvest three million tonnes of grain.

Yet, they gathered about five million tonnes of grain crops with the average yield of 51 centners per hectare.