March 31 2004, 08:32 UNIAN

Increase in production of chicken meat is forecast in Ukraine

The Research and Production Association "Ukrptitseprom" forecasts an increase in production of poultry meat at poultry-breeding farms of all ownerships in Ukraine in 2002 by 16 to 20 percent - to 250,000-260,000 tonnes.

A spokesman for Ukrptitseprom said the increase would be accounted on the growth of production of broiler meat, which would come to 230,000-240,000 tonnes in 2004.

"The production statistics in January-February allows us making such a forecast", the spokesman said.

The Agrarian Policy Ministry has forecasted a 35 to 40 percent growth in production of broiler meat in Ukraine in 2004. The production of broiler meat in 2003 made 190,000 tonnes - up 38 percent from the previous year.