Predicted winter wheat harvest not to exceed 15 million tons
2012-02-06 15:53:17
According to preliminary figures, Ukraine will be obliged to reseed at least 30% of the area under winter crops, and the expected harvest of winter wheat will not exceed 15 million tons, according to a forecast made by President of the Union of Agricultural Service Cooperatives Ivan Tomych.
"There are nine basic wheat harvesting regions in Ukraine, and if the cold intensifies, we will need to reseed more than 50%. This will have a negative effect on the crop yield and then on the summer crops. The situation is not very optimistic," the expert said.
He estimated that in such circumstances the price of bread could rise by 25-30%.
Head of the Department of Agro-Meteorology at the Ukrainian Weather Center Tetiana Adamenko supported Tomych's opinion.
The expert also believes that it will be possible to assess the amount of dead crops only after the entire course of the vegetation season. The real picture will become clear in March.