This year Ukraine may sow the largest area of spring wheat in the last 12 years – Ministry of Agrarian Policy

News in brief: Ukraine may be going through a period of wartime export moratorium across several EU nations, but it is poised to produce wheat on 285,000 hectares, the biggest in more than a decade, according to the government.

The area under spring wheat has increased in Ukraine. According to the preliminary data of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, as of mid-May, 247,000 hectares of the crop have been sown in the country. It is expected that this figure will reach 285,000 hectares. 

The last time Ukraine sowed similar areas of wheat during the spring planting season was 12 years ago. For example, in 2013, before the beginning of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the temporary occupation of part of our territories, this figure was 160,200  hectares. In 2021, Ukrainian farmers planted 192,100 hectares of spring wheat.

Currently, the leader in sowing this crop is Dnipropetrovs’k region, where farmers have already sown 32,100 hectares. Last year, Ternopil region sowed the most wheat – 22,400 hectares, and in 2021 – 21,800 hectares. 

However, despite the increased area under spring wheat, their share is only 10% of the total production of this crop in Ukraine. Therefore, this growth does not significantly compensate for the overall reduction of wheat acreage in the new season.

According to the preliminary forecasts of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, this year’s harvest of grains and legumes will amount to 45 million tons, including over 16.5 million tons of wheat.

Source: Agroperspectiva.com.ru