News

South African farming group Karoo Pistachios is ramping up output to capitalize on surging prices and compete with the world’s biggest producers.

The nuts — used in ice cream and chocolate — climbed to the highest level in almost a decade this month as the conflict in Iran, the world’s second-largest grower, disrupts supplies in an already constrained market.

The Director General of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation, Pavlo Koval, provided a detailed analysis of this year’s spring sowing campaign during a broadcast on Ukrainian Radio. He explained why farmers are being forced to reconsider crop structures, how global geopolitics is affecting production costs, and what transformations of the European market Ukrainian businesses should prepare for.

– Mr. Koval, the spring sowing campaign is already well underway. What are the key challenges farmers are facing, and how does this “fifth wartime sowing campaign” differ from the previous ones?

Pavlo Koval: More than one million hectares of early grains and legumes have already been sown, and some farms are beginning to plant sugar beet. However, this campaign will certainly not be cheaper or easier. There are several fundamental challenges common to all regions.

Palm oil prices closed lower in the Asian trading session but remained elevated. Nomura analysts Raghavendra Diwekar and Amol Dongre wrote in a note that palm oil prices will likely be supported this week by a weaker ringgit and declining inventories in Malaysia. The average palm oil price this week could be around 4,700 ringgit, although a de-escalation of the Middle East conflict and lower oil prices could push them below 4,600 ringgit per tonne, the analysts believe.

The third Ukraine - The Netherlands Agricultural Dialogue (UANLAD) took place on 30 and 31 March, 2026 in Breda, The Netherlands. The UANLAD is co-organized by the Ukrainian National Agrarian Forum UNAF and the Netherlands Farmers’ and Growers’ Association LTO NEDERLAND with full support and encouragement of the  Ministries of Agriculture of both countries.

The third UANLAD event was opened by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Mr Taras Kachka, LTO President Mr Ger Koopmans, UNAF director Ms Mariia Didukh and senior Ukrainian and Dutch government representatives. Ambassadors Mr Andrii Kostin and Mr Alle Dorhout were also present at the meeting.