Ministry cuts forecast for vegetable production in Ukraine in 2012 to 8.6 m t
The vegetable harvest in Ukraine this year will reach 8.6 million tonnes instead of the 8.8 million tonnes projected earlier, the Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry has reported.
"Vegetables this year were planted on 490,000 hectares, which is the same as last year, and we plant to harvest 8.6 million tonnes," reads the report, citing the director of the plant-growing department at the Ukrainian Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry, Oleksandr Demydov.
He said that despite a fall in harvest, the country's demand for vegetables would be satisfied in full.
"[8.6 million tonnes] is slightly less than last year, but Ukraine consumes 7.3 million tonnes, taking into account [average consumption of] 161 kilograms per capita. We believe that the public will have the vegetables of the borsch group [that are used in preparing traditional Ukrainian soups] and other vegetables," he added.
The ministry said that the cabbage harvest this year will amount to 1.78 million tonnes with domestic consumption of 1.5 million tonnes, that for table beet – 0.87 million tonnes with 0.6 million tonne consumption, table carrots – 0.89 million tonnes with the 0.64 million tonne consumption and onions – 1.16 million tonnes with the 0.76 million tonne consumption.
It is expected that Ukraine will harvest 0.18 million tonnes of garlic, 0.72 million tonnes of cucumbers and 1.7 million tonnes of tomatoes.
According to the report, potatoes harvest this year will total 22.9 million tonnes with 5.9 million tonne consumption. Potatoes were planted on 1.44 million hectares.
Demydov said that at present, prices of vegetables are falling. The lowest prices of vegetables are on wholesale agricultural markets.
The ministry said that as of October 17, 2012, the wholesale price of potatoes fell by 24 kopecks compared to the previous year, to UAH 1.29 per kilogram, that for carrots – by 13 kopecks, to UAH 2.20 per kilogram, red beet – by 9 kopecks, to UAH 1.60 per kilogram, and onions – by 27 kopecks, to UAH 1.36 per kilogram. The price of cabbage grew by 70 kopecks, to UAH 1.77 per kilogram. The ministry said that retail prices of potatoes came to UAH 1.80 per kilogram, that for cabbage – UAH 2.50 per kilogram, carrots – UAH 3.13 per kilogram, red beet – UAH 2.20 per kilogram and onions – UAH 2 per kilogram.
According to the State Statistics Service, vegetable harvest in Ukraine in 2011 grew by 21% on 2010, to 9.8 million tonnes, including 24.2 million tonnes of potatoes, 2 million tonnes of cabbage, 0.97 million tonnes of cucumbers, 0.89 million tonnes of table beet, 0.86 million tonnes of carrots, 2.11 million tonnes of tomatoes, 1.18 million tonnes of onions and 0.17 million tonnes of garlic.
