Ukraine's farmers sow over 2.5 mln hectares of spring crops

MOSCOW. April 26 (Interfax) - Ukraine has sown 2.546 million hectares with spring grains and leguminous crops as of April 25, a 90% increase over last year, Ukrainian media reported, citing data from the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food.

Wheat was sown on 223,300 hectares (versus 204,700 hectares the week before), barley was sown on 761,500 hectares (versus 741,500 hectares the week before), peas were down on 159,200 hectares (versus 157,000 hectares the week before), and oats were sown on 146,600 hectares (versus 136,600 hectares the week before).

Grains and legumes were sown last week on 492,900 hectares. This figure was 792,600 hectares the week before and 408,600 two weeks ago.

Sunflower was sown on 1.997 million hectares, soybeans on 208,600 hectares, and sugar beets on 238,700 hectares. Farmers from Vinnytsia, Poltava, Khmelnitsky, Chernivtsi and Chernihiv regions have completed sowing sugar beets.

Ukraine's Ministry of Agrarian Policy's April forecast has gross production of grains and oilseeds reaching 74 million tonnes in 2024, including about 52.4 million tonnes of grains and 21.7 million tonnes of oilseeds.

The following harvest figures are forecast for 2024: 19.2 million tonnes of wheat (versus 22.2 million tonnes in 2023), 4.9 million tonnes of barley (versus 5.7 million tonnes in 2023), 26.7 million tonnes of corn (versus 30.5 million tonnes in 2023), 5.2 million tonnes of soybeans (versus 4.7 million tonnes in 2023), 12.4 million tonnes of sunflower (versus 12.9 million tonnes in 2023), and 4.1 million tonnes of rapeseed (versus 4.7 million tonnes in 2023).

The sowing area for grain and leguminous crops in 2024 is forecast at 10.6 million hectares, which is 395,000 hectares less than in 2023.