Ukraine: nearly 87% of winter grain areas were in good condition – Ministry of Agrarian Policy

As of mid-February, sprouts of winter grain crops in Ukraine appeared throughout 99.6% of the general planted areas of 7.3 mln ha, Including 87% of the areas (nearly 6.3 mln ha) in good and satisfactory condition, and 13% (971 thsd ha) – in weak and thinned condition, declared the First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Maksym Martynyuk.

According to him, sprouts of winter rapeseed appeared throughout 99% from the general planted areas of 1 mln ha, Including 89% of the areas (nearly 884.6 thsd ha) in good and satisfactory condition, and 11% (110 thsd ha) – in weak and thinned condition.

The Deputy Minister explained that the figures are not final, and further condition of crop areas will depend on weather conditions. The preliminary conservative forecast showed that crops overwintering passed in successful way, without heavy losses.

According to preliminary figures from regions, the general planted areas of agricultural crops for the harvest-2018 met the last year results, and will reach nearly 27.2 mln ha, including grain crops – 14.6 mln ha (54%).

In the current year, the structure of planted areas will be indicative for the crops, which the Parliament canceled the VAT refund for exports. Taking into account that the reporting crops are the most profitable ones in the plant growing industry, the Ministry expects that there will be no negative dynamics, said M.Martynyuk.

https://www.apk-inform.com