August 23 2006, 09:38

Agricultural Marketing Project increases the forecast of cucumber production in Ukraine

The analysts of the Agricultural Marketing Project (AMP) increased the forecast of cucumber production up to 760-770,000 tons in Ukraine. This prognosis is 72,000 tons greater than the previous data published by AMP in April 2006. So, the analysts of the Project expect that gross cucumber production (excluding greenhouse commodities) will increase 35-40% in 2006 in Ukraine. The production growth up to 25-30% was earlier expected.

To the opinion of Andrey Yarmak, the Deputy Director of the Agricultural Marketing Project, the increased production forecast is determined by updated evaluations. The forecasted growth of field cucumber cultivation areas in the southern regions of Ukraine, as well as prognosed average yield of this crop practically throughout the country are increased due to favorable weather conditions. Farmers won't harvest all cucumbers on fields because of failing cucumber supplies to canneries and problems to sell this commodity on freshmarket this season; this fact was considered in the updated forecast. The expert says, the analysts warn the producers regarding possible situation development on cucumber market as early as in April. However, not all producers followed experts' advice; they continued extending non-contracted cucumber plantings.

At the present moment the analysts of the Project and "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal are working on the updated forecast regarding production and prices on major fruits and vegetables. The forecast will be published in one of September issues of the journal. The final evaluation of the production and the forecast of produce prices in winter-spring period, as well as perspectives of vegetable, fruit and berry production in 2007 will be voiced during the third international conference-exhibition "Fruits and Vegetables of Ukraine 2006. Open Market" to be held December 5th-6th 2006 in Kyiv.