News
13.01.2013
Ukraine to increase areas under berries in 2013
In 2013, it is planned to increase areas under berries: strawberries, black currants, blueberries and raspberries. The trends and technologies of berry production will be discussed by the experts on February 21 at the IV International Conference "Commercial horticulture in Ukraine 2013", jointly organized by the Association "Ukrainian Agribusiness Club" and «AgriEvent» Agency.
According to UCAB Director General Volodymyr Lapa, the market of many berry crops still has potential for development, at the expense of both domestic demand and possible expansion of exports. In combination with a profitable production this causes interest for many farmers of the berry sector in Ukraine.
"We estimate that in 2012 there were planted around 430-440 ha of strawberry, that is 15-20% more than in the previous season. Demand for strawberries in the fresh market, as well as from the part of processors is still quite high, so the trend of growth in areas is likely to continue in the next 2-3 years "- said the expert on berry crops production Oleg Bosyi.
Also in next year the increase of areas under black currants is planned.
"In the next few years we can not exclude the risk of overproduction of grapes and decrease in prices almost to the level of production costs. Such a situation occurred 8 years ago when the plantation were managed to save only by those producers who were able to reduce the costs by increasing the area under grapes and due to mechanization of collection of grapes,"- Oleg Bosyi informed.
He said that the purchase price for black currants had been growing steadily for several years, and in 2012 broke all records, reaching 20-25 UAH/kg. This become the impetus for the increase of areas under currants and caused to a price rise for seedlings (the price for black currants seedlings almost doubled in two years).
Meanwhile, the areas under the relatively new crops for Ukrainian producers - American blueberries - in the last 5 years grew out from several small test plots to 260 ha in 2011-2012.
At the same time production volumes of tall-growing blueberry are not yet significant - the first harvest usually is got 2 years after planting, and the full fruiting is achieved on 6-8 year.
"The price for a berry in 2012 was 60-74 UAH / kg, which is practically equal to the price level of imported blueberries. We expect a further increase in the area under tall-growing blueberries, including at the expense of large projects (culture is very interesting for large producers due to the possibility of mechanization of berry collecting for the fresh market and high export potential of blueberries in CIS countries and in Western Europe), "- Oleg Bosyi said.
In their turn, producers of raspberries practically ceased to lay new plantations of remontant varieties because processors have been holding purchase prices for remontant raspberry (fruiting in August-September) at a fairly low level for the second year.
According to an expert, at the same time, the demand for conventional raspberry (fruiting in June-July) in 2012 remained at a high level, and the purchase price in farms averaged to 30-34 UAH/kg.
"So we expect that in the next few years, the areas under remontant raspberries will stabilize (though it depends on the market situation of frozen berries, most of which are produced in Serbia, U.S. and China), and under the summer raspberries will continue to grow" – summarized the expert .
More detailed information about the problems and prospects of berry production will be told by Oleg Bosyi on February 21 at the IV International Conference "Commercial horticulture in Ukraine 2013", organized by the Association "Ukrainian Agribusiness Club" and «AgriEvent» agency (find out more about the Conference at www.agrievent.com.ua).
Association "Ukrainian Agribusiness Club"
Velyka Zhytomyrska str., 20 А, office 53, Kyiv, 01001
Phone: +380 44 201-4950
Fax: +380 44 201-4951
099 272 59 30
Tetiana Kotyk
www.agribusiness.kiev.ua
The Association "Ukrainian Agribusiness Club" (UCAB) www.agribusiness.kiev.ua was founded in 2007 to protect the economic and professional interests of players of agribusiness in Ukraine. UCAB is a unique platform in Ukraine for establishing business contacts between the leaders of agribusiness, improvement their work and dialogue with the government. UCAB actively supports Ukrainian producers in establishing and maintaining international business relations. The Association consists of the largest producers and processors of agricultural products in Ukraine.
