January 31 2006, 13:55

Predicted Failure of Crimean Fruit and Grape Harvest Could Lead to Increased Profits for Cucurbits Crop Producers

Crimean farmers are seriously thinking about what vegetable crops will be demanded most in the upcoming season. In view of the record frosts specialists are inclined to predict the harvest from orchards and vineyards will be much worse than a year ago. According to preliminary estimations the entire acreage of orchards and vineyards has been injured in some way by the frosts; the full extent of the damage will be known soon. Many producers say they are likely to lose more than half of their earlier planned harvest.

Based on the experience from previous years, farmers point out that this year's damaged acreage of fruits and grapes will encourage producers to crops "substitute" planned fruits and grapes to cucurbits (mostly watermelons in Crimea) to some extent. A year before last a similar situation occurred, when the orchard harvest was seriously damaged by spring frosts. It was hard for those who had already planned their acreage (cases where funds were already allocated, seeds are purchased, and some preliminary work carried out) for the year to respond to the situation.

This year however, there is time to change some plans of vegetable production, as some farmers will still be able to purchase other seeds. Other crops will compensate the shortage of fruits and grapes and we hope to see Crimean farmers' maximizing profit in such difficult situation.