Warm winter will hit an important export item of the agricultural superpower
A warm winter helped Ukraine conclude a lucrative gas contract, but snowless weather will have negative consequences for the wheat harvest, one of Kyiv’s important exports.
The head of the Union of Ukrainian Peasants, Ivan Tomich, announced this at a press conference, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
The expert predicts a decrease in the wheat harvest by at least 15-20% due to weather conditions.
“In current years, the wheat harvest will be less, 15-20% is the lower limit. The upper one will depend on economic and natural factors,” Tomic said.
He fears that other crops may also be at risk.
“This situation, which is developing due to weather conditions, is alarming for the formation of a whole range of agricultural crops,” Tomic said.
The situation is further aggravated by the fact that the previous year, 2019, was also difficult for many Ukrainian farmers.
“The moisture factor today is one of the decisive factors in crop formation. It is very critical in some regions, starting in the fall. Even if there is further positivity, this factor will definitely work negatively on the formation of the current year’s wheat harvest. Based on this, plus weakening due to diseases and pests, the second most important factor is added - economic hunger. Farms ended 2019 with a loss rate of about 35%. This means that some people have little money, others have no money at all to invest in spring field work,” the expert says.
Cereal crops, i.e. wheat and corn are the main agricultural exports of Ukraine. In 2018, according to the State Statistics Service, the share of wheat in value terms accounted for 30,4% of “crop” exports – $3 billion. Ukraine has been increasing grain exports since 2010.
English version :: Read in English A warm winter will hit a key export item for the agricultural superpower.