Ukraine faces canola production decline

Ukraine's winter canola plantings are facing critical problems from poor weather conditions, and that could affect production and exports in 2010, according to the Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA) on Tuesday (Sept 29).

As of September 23, the germination ability of winter canola sowings in the western regions of Ukraine totalled 15-20 percent from the standard level. The index reached 40 percent in the southern and central regions, the UGA said.

Weather conditions were not the only problems for canola planting, as difficult financial conditions also played a role in it, said UGA president Alex Lissitsa.

Farmers had to purchase planting material from years 2007 and 2008 at low prices, and the low-quality sowing material and long-term drought limited winter canola sowings to 60 percent of normal levels.

The UGA said Ukraine plans to sow winter canola on 1.2 million hectares of land, but only 800,000 hectares are expected to be harvested.