Information for fruit and vegetables business in CIS
Targeting for 36.6 mn MT of grain in 2002
The target for all farms in Ukraine is to produce total of 36.6 MT of grain, 16.3 mn MT of sugar beets, 2.8 MT of sunflower, 18.5 mn MT of potatoes, and 6.1 mn MT of vegetables in 2002, says the MinAP source.
The strategy and tactics of this year's spring campaign will be determined by such factors as proper management of winter crops, sufficient supply of inputs and cash to the farmer, as well as planting spring crops within the optimum timeframe. Spring crops should cover 17 mn ha.
Of those 17 mn ha the following pattern should be used:
- Grain crops and legumes - 7.1 mn ha;
- Industrial crops - 3.6 mn ha;
- Potatoes and vegetables - 2.2 mn ha;
- Forage crops - 6.5 mn ha.
Total spring campaign shall encompass 18.2 mn ha of which spring crops planting makes up 17.1 mn ha, winter crops replanting - 600,000 ha, tillage - 800,000 ha.
Totally Ukrainian farmers planted 9.1 mn ha of winter crops including 8.6 mn ha as grain crops. Results of the last examination show that 85% or 7.5 mn ha of crops are in good and satisfactory condition. About 600,000 ha are estimated for replanting.
The winter barley planted in the south is in real trouble where certain areas lost from 20 to 50% of the crop.
Low soil moisture makes winter crops in the main grain belt uneven.