More than 470,000 hectares have been planted in Ukraine, with much more in Kherson and Kharkiv regions compared to last year. However, crops are changing due to farmers' desire to avoid losses. At the same time, the blockade of the borders with Poland is forcing farmers exporting to Western Europe to look for additional funds for spring field work.
Dmytro Solomchuk, MP and member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy, told this to the Media Center Ukraine, UNN reports .
The area is increasing. Crops are changing. Farmers are not willing to sow corn because it is not economically viable, and are switching to soybeans.
According to the MP, more than 470,000 hectares have been sown in Ukraine, mostly wheat, barley, peas, and oats.
Most of the crops have been sown in Odesa region. Also, much more areas have been sown in Kherson and Kharkiv regions.
In the Kherson region, compared to last year, much more land has been sown, as the territories have been demined. In addition, more landmines have been cleared in Kharkiv region, and crops are growing accordingly
When asked what his forecasts are and what results Ukraine expects this year, Solomchuk said the following:
Everything still depends on the weather conditions, because there are areas that are even flooded today due to heavy rains and downpours. If the weather normalizes, I think they will be at the same level as last season. Someone predicts that maybe 2-3% of the area will be smaller. But I don't think so, because, for example, last year 50 thousand hectares were cleared of mines in Kherson region, and this year 180 thousand hectares have been cleared
Solomchuk also explained whether farmers will gravitate toward experimental crops or stable proven crops in 2024.
If you look at large companies, they still plant more traditional crops: soybeans, wheat, corn. If you look at small farms, they go more into niche crops, because having 20, 50, 100 hectares of land, wheat or corn is a loss, you can't earn anything, so they switch to vegetable crops, such as potatoes, onions, or niche crops.
Regarding the blocking of the borders with Poland and the impact of this factor on sowing plans, the MP noted that this affects the preparatory spring field work of farmers who exported to Western Europe:
Producers used to ship products to Germany and the Scandinavian countries, but today their warehouses are full and there are logistical problems, which affects their finances, preparatory work for spring and field work; farmers are forced to go to banks and get additional loans or attract various grants or assistance from various funds.
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