Agriculture ministry improves Ukraine’s grain forecast

Previously, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy believed a grain harvest in Ukraine in 2017 would be at 62 million tonnes.

According to the report, the wheat harvest is expected at 26.1 million tonnes at a yield of 41.0 centners per hectare, maize for grain - at 25.2 million tonnes at a yield of 56.0 centners per hectare.

Barley harvest in 2017 is expected at 8.3 million tonnes with a yield of 33.1 c/ha, rye – at 497,400 tonnes with a yield of 29.1 centner / hectare, oats – at 478,700 tonnes with a yield of 24.3 c/ha, buckwheat – at 180,300 tonnes with a yield of 10 c/ha, millet - at 83,300 tons with a yield of 15 c/ha, rice - at 70,200 tonnes with a yield of 55.3 c/ha.

Read alsoUkraine harvests 60 mln tonnes of grain as of Nov 29The Ministry forecasts a harvest of sugar beet at the level of 13.8 million tonnes with a yield of 433.3 centners per hectare, sunflower – at 11.6 million tonnes with a yield of 19.6 centners per hectare, soybeans – at 3.8 million tonnes with a yield of 19.3 c/ha, and rape – at 2.2 million tonnes with a yield of 27.5 c/ha.

"A survey of winter cereal crops for the harvest of 2018 shows that seedlings of 6.9 million hectares were planted on an area of 6.8 million hectares (98%), of which 5.6 million hectares (83%) were in good and satisfactory condition , in a weak and rarefied state – another 1.2 million hectares (17%).

It is estimated that at nearly 113.6 thousand hectares, or 2% of the sowing area, shoots have not been formed," the report says. In particular, winter rape seedlings from 868,800 hectares sown were achieved  on an area of 847,600 hectares (98%). Of these, 744,900 hectares (88%) were in good and satisfactory condition and another 101,600 hectares (12%) – in the weak and rarefied state, 1,100 hectares - perished.

It is estimated that at almost 21,200 hectares, or 2% of the sowing area, shoots have not been formed. According to the report, further condition of crops will depend on the favorable weather conditions of wintering of winter crops.

Read alsoUkraine boosts revenue from agriexports by quarter in 10 monthsAs UNIAN reported, in late October, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food expected a grain harvest in Ukraine in 2017 at 62 million tonnes, which is the second largest target throughout the history of Ukraine’s independence.

In 2016, Ukraine harvested 65.95 million tonnes of grains and legumes, which is 9.7% more than in 2015, and set a record high over the years of independence. In 2016-2017 marketing year, Ukrainian farmers plan to set a record high for grain exports, placing 41.6 million tonnes of these crops on foreign markets.