August 23 2006, 16:39

Onion harvesting started in Cherkasy oblast

According to information provided to "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" journal by Sergey Strokan, the Market Information Specialist of Cherkasy office, Agricultural Marketing Project, local producers are starting harvesting onion. This process usually reaches its peak in September.

According to information provided by producers, onion quality will be satisfactory this year. However, average yield will be on the same level as a year ago, and sometimes even lower. The reason for this fact is weather: there have been practically no rainfalls in many rayons of Cherkasy oblast during two first summer months. However, overall gross onion harvest can be greater than in 2005, as onion acreage was extended 15-20% in the oblast.

At the present moment the wholesale price for onion is $0.17-0.22/kg on terms of customer's pick up. This is actually the price level of 2005. However, the analysts forecast onion production to increase nearly one quarter this year comparing to 2005 in Ukraine. So, we can assume that the price level for onion will be lower this season than a year ago.