News
27.10.2011
Ukraine could face threat of grain shortage in 2012, says ministry
The state of winter crops in the second half of October causes a serious threat of grain shortages in 2012, the press service of the Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry has said.
"The meteorological conditions in September and first days of October on the major part of the state were rather unfavorable, and here and there critical for sowing and the initial stages of winter crop growth," reads the report.
It said that the small amount of rain has caused a delay in grain germination on some fields with winter crops that were sowed at the best time, while shoots from grain sowed earlier are uneven and weak.
In particular, the ministry said that preliminary examination of winter crop shoots showed that shoots were seen on 3.9 million hectares (53% to fields sowed with crops), including 2.8 million hectares (71%) in good and satisfactory state and 1.1 million hectares (29%) with weak shoots.
The ministry says that most of the crops might have to be re-sowed in spring.
The press service of the ministry reported, referring to data from the Ukrainian Weather Center, the amount of rains in September and first ten days of October was 33-83% of the usual amount, which caused unsatisfactory moisture of soil and drought in all climate zones.
As reported, as of October 24, 2011 Ukraine had sown 7.6 million hectares with winter crops for seed, which is 93% of the target. Agribusinesses have sown 6.2 million hectares with wheat, which is 94% of the target, 320,000 hectares with rye, which is 95% of the target, and 1.04 million hectares with barley, which is 84% of the target.
