Ukraine: losses of winter crops sowings not to influence food security of the country

Despite losses of winter crops sowing areas in 2010, the general production volumes of the harvest-2010 will stay at the sufficient level for the complete meeting of the domestic requirements of Ukraine, declared the association Ukrainian club of agrarian business.

Taking into account winter crops sowings, which showed critical conditions, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy still forecasts grain production at the maximum level of 48 mln tonnes. The unfavorable weather conditions will likely influence winter wheat sowings, and lower wheat production by 2-2.5 mln tonnes – to 18-19 mln tonnes. But such production level will still satisfy all requiems of the domestic market and form the export potential at the level of nearly 6 mln tonnes of wheat.

In the following season, the export volumes of grains will possibly form the volume of 18-19 mln tonnes as opposed to 20 mln tonnes in the current season, commented Andrew Tovstopyat, the expert of agrarian markets of Ukrainian club of agrarian business. Agrarians will mainly resow perished winter crops sowing areas with maize, spring barley and sunflower.

Winter sowing areas for the harvest-2010 totaled: winter wheat sowings – 7.1 mln ha (as opposed to 6.9 mln ha for the harvest-2009), winter barley – 1.6 mln ha (1.3 mln ha), rye – 0.3 mln ha (0.45 mln ha).

Source: AgriMarket.Info