February 27 2006, 09:04

Zakarpattya canneries are interested in tomato and cucumber supply from Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts

According to the information provided to "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" weekly journal by the specialists of Zakarpattya office, Agricultural Marketing Project, the regional canneries are seriously concerned about coming "traditional" cucumber and tomato deficit for processing needs. This year the regional canneries increased the produce processing capacities once again.

Zakarpattya is the 8-th oblast as for cucumber production volumes and the 12th as for tomato production volumes in Ukraine; despite of this fact, around 15 canneries work in the region specializing on tomato and cucumber pickling. At once several large processors have started to work here recently; this year one or two large canneries will probably be launched. So, the region has in fact the greatest number of canneries; at the same time, possessing a very limited acreage, Zakarpattya oblast does not lead vegetable production in the country.

Cucumber and tomato production is still concentrated on land owned by local population who get seeds, drip irrigation systems, plant protection assets, trellis and other assistance from the plants. But, the producers often fail to fulfill the supply obligations. There are few large farmers producing tomatoes and cucumbers industrially. So the plants consider the raw material purchase process to be labor consuming and expensive.

On purpose to solve this problem, the canneries' management negotiates with the large producers of Kherson, Mykolaiv oblasts and other southern regions of Ukraine regarding cucumber and tomato supply for processing needs. These regions are known for the highest level of vegetable production development in our country, the tomato prices are the lowest in a peak season there. Such cooperation can be profitable both for Zakarpattya plants and for the farmers of Ukrainian South who have a great experience in the industrial vegetable production. And, it is time for Zakarpattya farmers to think about investments in the industrial vegetable production before they are forced out of market by the suppliers from other regions.