April 11 2006, 16:09

40% Zakarpattya young vineyards were killed by January frosts

Severe January frosts have injured only young vineyards in Zakarpattya; 40% have died. This information was provided by M. Skrylnyk, the Senior Agronomist of Zakarpattya Orchard and Vineyard Department to Lyudmila Dzyamko, the Economist of Zakarpattya office, Agricultural Marketing Project.

It refers mostly to the vineyards which have not started to fruit yet. There is a very few young vineyards in the region, as practically the producers do not establish new vineyards at all. If such situation is preserved for several years, either the grape prices will jump up in the region, or the grape import from the neighboring Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Moldova will grow.

According to the earlier provided information of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal, no significant grape yield decrease is expected in the region. The producers report that the fruiting canes of 5 and more years old grape have not suffered from the frosts much.