The VAR outlined the problems of preparing for spring sowing

The deputy chairman of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council, Denys Marchuk, emphasized that the preparation for sowing continues in conditions of low financial resources for farmers. According to him, prices in the middle of the country for agricultural products are not market, while other services have become more expensive, in particular, logistics sometimes takes up to 80% of the value of exported products. Agribusiness also operates against the background of problems with energy carriers.

«In such conditions, the role of cooperation between farmers is increasing. Agrarians will apply no more than 40-50% of fertilizers as needed, as agrochemicals are too expensive», said Denys Marchuk.

Another factor that will inhibit spring sowing in 2023 is significant mining of agricultural land.

«In Ukraine, the public union «Agroproducers of the Occupied Territories» was created, one of the main tasks of which is the acceleration of demining works. Currently, it is necessary to find funding for demining the territories that were under occupation. These are Kharkiv region, Mykolaiv region, Kherson region, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv region, etc. It is important to involve foreign experts. But, despite the active work, it will not be possible to demine all the fields quickly. Areas in Donetsk region have not been demined since 2014. The cost of demining 1 hectare of land is about 40-50 thousand UAH, and this is the number one issue today», - believes the deputy head of the VAR.

It should be noted that, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, more than 20% of arable land in Ukraine currently belongs to temporarily occupied territories. The lands on which mainly winter wheat, corn and sunflower were sown remain occupied. 

As Taras Vysotskyi, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, noted regarding the preparatory measures, last year, as of February 24, farmers were fully ready for sowing, but currently there is a problem with liquidity, availability of finances, which complicates and slows down preparation for field work. At the same time, farmers are determined.

«Agrarians will sow the maximum area of crops wherever the security situation allows. We hope that the next year, which will not be easy, will be able to pass confidently, having grown enough grain for domestic consumption and export», said Taras Vysotskyi.

According to the forecast of the First Deputy Minister, a certain change is expected regarding the sowing of agricultural crops. So, the area sown under oil crops will increase: rapeseed, soybean, sunflower. This is due to the fact that the cost of one ton of oilseeds is higher, and the cost of logistics per ton is lower. That is, farmers will be able to earn more from 1 hectare. This is a positive factor for farmers, macroeconomics and not critical for crop rotation. Wheat production is expected to decrease, but it will be twice as much as is needed for domestic needs. There will also be a slight increase in the number of crops aimed at the domestic market, as was the case with buckwheat this year.