News From Agro-Industrial Complex

During January-February of 2010, Ukraine increased imports of mineral fertilizers by 3.2 times compared to the same period of 2009 – to the level of 52.5 mln USD, declared the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine.

Ukraine planted spring grains on 2.6 million hectares, or 62% of the planned total planting area, by April 12 compared with 4.38 million hectares, or 96% of the total planted area by April 12, 2009, the agriculture ministry reported Wednesday.

As of April 1 2010, winter grains sowings in Ukraine were damaged throughout 0.27 mln ha, or nearly 3.1% of the planted areas totaling 8.56 mln ha, informed the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine. At the same time, 14.6% of the general sowing areas, or 1.21 mln ha showed weak and thinned condition and 0.41 mln ha or 4.8% of agricultural crops areas are to be resowed.

It was also stated that 3.3 mln ha of winter grains sowings (39,9%) showed good condition indices, and 3.77 mln ha – satisfactory condition (45.5%).

As of March 29, agrarians of Ukraine sowed spring crops, grains and leguminous plants throughout 640 thsd ha, which totaled 15% of the general forecasted areas, as opposed to 700 thsd ha on the same date of the last year, declared Nikholay Prisyashnuk, the Minister of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine.