Photo from UNIAN
The autumn grain sowing campaign has been completed in Ukraine, while Ukrainian-controlled districts in Donetsk and Luhansk regions have sown 99% and 96% of areas with grain respectively, amid this year's bumper crop of nearly 61 million tonnes of grain, the press service of the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry reported with reference to Minister Oleksiy Pavlenko.
"Despite all the challenges, the sowing campaign has successfully been completed. In particular, even in Ukrainian-controlled districts in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, it has been completed by 99% and 96%, respectively. At the beginning of December 2015, the yield of grain and leguminous crops totaled almost 61 million tonnes," the press service quoted Pavlenko as saying.
According to the minister, such volumes of grain harvest ensure Ukraine's food security and the export potential of the country. At the same time the Agrarian Ministry plans to boost grain exports to 40-70 million tonnes by 2020.
"By 2020, we plan to increase this figure to 40-70 million tonnes of grain. This will be possible with a crop yield of 80-100 million tonnes. Taking into account this year's figures, these targets are quite realistic," Pavlenko said.
In addition, the minister stated that Ukraine performed quite well while exporting other types of farm produce, namely, it ranks first in terms of sunflower oil exports in the world. Ukraine is third among the world's largest exporters of maize; it ranks fourth as a barley exporter, sixth as a wheat exporter, seventh as a soybeans exporter, and eighth as a chicken meat exporter.
As UNIAN reported earlier, the gross grain harvest is projected at 59.5-60 million tonnes in 2015.
A total of 6.7 million hectares (ha) of winter crops had been sown by December 4, accounting for 91% of the plan. Sprouts of winter crops appeared throughout 83% of the planted area. As reported, 66% of the sprouted areas were in good and satisfactory condition (3.7 million ha), 34% of the sprouts were weak and thinned (1.9 million ha).
Due to high temperatures and a lack of the moisture in the soil in the period from August through October, the autumn sowing campaign was significantly delayed in Ukraine. Due to late planting in the dry soil, winter crops are demonstrating weak growth, which may result in a loss of crops if the winter is cold.
As reported, winter crops are projected to be sown on an area of 7.4 million ha. The Agrarian Policy Ministry reported that a difficult sowing campaign had caused direct losses to farmers in the amount of UAH 11 billion, with the estimated costs of field works totaling UAH 80 billion.