February 13 2007, 15:01

Characterized by the leading carrot production growth rates, Ukraine is among the top ten carrot producers

According to the data of Faostat, Ukraine occupied the eighth place as for the volumes of the produced carrot in 2005 having the annual production up to approximately 650,000 tons. China leads the carrot production in the world; more than 8 mln. tons of carrot were grown in 2005 in this country. Russia and USA follow the list with 1.6 mln. tons and 1.8 mln. tons of annual carrot production respectively. Poland, Great Britain, Japan, France, and Ukraine are the next; the carrot production is fluctuating 650 to 950 thousands of tons in these countries. Italy and Germany tail the top ten carrot producing countries.

If we take into account the AMP forecast about around 770,000 tons of carrot produced in 2006 in Ukraine, our country will probably achieve the 6th place in the list leaving Japan and France behind.

Ukraine is the leader among the mentioned countries as for growth rates of carrot production. The carrot production has increased more than twice during the recent ten years in Ukraine, from 320,000 tons in 1996 to 770,000 tons in 2006. The production volumes grew 35-75% in most top 10 countries; the carrot production growth constituted 92% in China.

It is worth mentioning that Ukraine has the second place as for carrot production volumes per capita among the top 10 carrot growers, leaving the top position for Poland.

Despite of the large carrot harvests in Ukraine, the specialists mention that most part of the grown carrot is of out-of-date varieties which do not possess the quality and flavor characteristics required for the table carrot in the developed countries. Also, a larger part of carrot enters the market without the post harvest handling which includes sorting, calibrating, cleaning and washing. That's why Ukraine occupies a significantly lower position on the world market as for the production volumes of the marketable carrot.

At the same time, a rapid growth of both the production of modern carrot varieties and hybrids, and the capacities for carrot post harvest handling is observed in Ukraine. More than a dozen of companies supply washed and packed carrot to the retail chains. Some companies have already launched the so-called baby-carrot production lines (small peeled carrot sticks), carrot rolls and other products of the kind.