August 4 2006, 17:50

Apple harvest will be quite good in Poltava oblast despite of spring frosts

According to information provided to "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal by the specialists of Poltava office, Agricultural Marketing Project (AMP), apple yield will differ substantially in the rayons of the oblast. The AMP clients say, the farmers of northern, eastern and western rayons of the oblast expect to harvest only half of planned volumes of marketable apple; it will be up to 5 tons/ha. At the same time, the yield of apple for processing needs will be on the expected level. To the contrary, the producers from southern rayons speak about good harvest, up to 10-15 tons/ha in intensive Dutch-type orchards. The orchards are young in the rayon, so the expected results are quite good.

The specialists also mention that diseases, primarily scab, are not actively developing this season. The number of chemical treatments declined, so the producers will have marketable apples of good quality. A good harvest of apples for processing will be gathered throughout the oblast: the only problem will be to sell the harvested commodity. At the present moment only one processing enterprise in the oblast plans to purchase around 200 tons of apple raw materials. Two years ago four plants processed apples into juice and secondary products, including sulfited apple puree. The enterprises competed for raw materials: one processor needed around 400 tons in average.

There is a rather large supply of good old varieties on fresh market, which are demanded by population; however, the processors are not interested in them.