April 3 2006, 14:19

The acreage of greenhouses and forcing frames increases 15% annually in Zakarpattya oblast

According to the information provided to "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal by the specialists of Zakarpattya office, Agricultural Marketing Project, a stable trend of greenhouse acreage extension has been traced during the recent years. According to the assessments done by AMP specialists, acreage extension of about 15% occurs annually due to the favorable climatic conditions (Zakarpattya producers can harvest vegetables 4-6 weeks earlier than their neighbors from Lviv oblast). Early vegetables and berries production is one of the most feasible agricultural businesses in the conditions of agricultural land shortage.

Early cabbage, radish, cucumber, tomato and bell pepper are the main crops produced in Zakarpattya greenhouses and forcing frames. A gross early production in Zakarpattya has already reflected on the greenhouse commodities' supplies both to the regional markets and to the largest wholesale markets in Kyiv and Lviv cities. Two years ago a rapid increase of Zakarpattya early cabbage supply resulted in the significant price decline throughout Ukraine.

Zakarpattya producers extend greenhouse acreage by means of the fields for open ground vegetable production. For example, this year less acreage will be allocated for field tomato production, cause local producers do not stand the competition with the farmers of Kherson and other southern oblasts of Ukraine. A certain part of these fields has been already occupied by greenhouses and forcing frames, to the opinion of the regional specialists of the Agricultural Marketing Project. So we can wait for another increase of Zakarpattya early vegetable supply on the country market.