The task for Ukraine in the next few years will be to turn from an importer of vegetables, which it can grow itself, into their exporter, Minister of Agricultural Policy and Food Mykola Prysiazhniuk has said.

He said that in April 2011 compared to April 2010, Ukraine had doubled the export of vegetables, but it still remains dependent on imports.

According to the minister, Ukrainian farmers will soon have to radically change the status quo by increasing the export of vegetables and other agricultural products, which they can grow themselves.

"As for the fruits and vegetables, which we are able to grow individually, our task here is not to be an import-oriented country, but a country primarily oriented to the export of its vegetables and other products," Prysiazhniuk said.

In April 2011, imports of vegetables to Ukraine rose to 41,500 tons, which was more than twice compared to April 2010. Experts from the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club said that the activity of imports could be explained by a significant increase in the prices of vegetables in Ukraine, which has arisen due to poor infrastructure and the limited supply of domestic vegetables. "The failure to preserve and supply products with minimal losses to consumers is the main reason for a rise in prices and imports of vegetables to Ukraine," the club's agricultural markets expert Roman Slasten said.

He said that the problem of "storage facilities and markets" in the next few years would be a major factor in a rise in the prices of vegetables in the winter-spring period.

UKRINFORM