April 5 2006, 14:34

Cherkasy orchardists count on a good apple harvest

Cherkasy oblast orchardists are starting spring activities in their orchards. At present moment they perform pest-control operations; some producers prune trees and intertill the orchards. Sergey Strokan, the Market Information Specialist, Cherkasy office of the Agricultural Marketing Project, provided this information to "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal.

Apple orchards occupy the largest share of the total fruit-and-berry plantings in the oblast. The farmers say that the orchards had not practically suffered from winter frosts, the general state is good.

It is worth mentioning that the acreage of intensive apple orchards is actively extending in the oblast and throughout Ukraine in the whole. This year the specialists evaluate the rates of acreage extension for new intensive orchards to be about 15-20% in the oblast. And, the majority of the orchardists with at least 1 ha orchards plan and start constructing cold storages for the future harvest.