March 21 2006, 11:53

Pepper and egg-plant acreage will be extended in Odesa oblast

Past year was very unfavorable for such crops as pepper and egg-plant in Odesa oblast, though this region occupies one of the leading places on these crops production in Ukraine. Temperature fluctuations, hail-damaged fields caused plant diseases and, as a result, production decrease. High prices were also predetermined by demand growth from the side of processors.

The production and price in 2006 were studied by "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal; according to the preliminary results, in the southern rayons of Odesa oblast acreage growth will constitute 20% for pepper and 10-15% for egg-plant. Acreage contraction is expected to take place in the central rayons, which do not specialize on these crops (egg-plant and pepper are rather thermophilic crops, they need obligatory irrigation and considerable labor resources). So, this year the total acreage increase will be about 10-15%. Past season the yield was lower than average; this season production can grow 20-25%. Basing on the survey data, Dmitriy Chernyak, the Market Information Specialist of Odesa office, Agricultural Marketing Project thinks that pepper and egg-plant prices will be lower in the harvesting period compared to 2005.