Ukrainian farmers sow 1.26 mln hectares of spring crops, sowing pace significantly ahead of last year

MOSCOW. April 12 (Interfax) - Ukraine had sown 1.26 million hectares of hard grain and leguminous crops as of April 11, 72.2% more than on the same date a year earlier, Ukrainian media reported, citing the Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry's press service on Friday.

Wheat was sown on 173,900 hectares (versus 118,300 hectares the week before), barley was sown on 683,400 hectares (versus 543,200 hectares the week before), peas were sown on 147,700 hectares (versus 119,000 hectares the week before), and oats were sown on 117,000 hectares (versus 62,400 hectares the week before).

Ukrainian farmers sowed grain and leguminous crops on 408,600 hectares of land in the last week.

The press service report said that the leaders in sowing rates were the Kiev Region, which sowed 23,000 hectares of wheat, 39,300 hectares of barley, 4,700 hectares of peas and 3,600 hectares of oats; Ternopol, which sowed 18,900 hectares of wheat, 63,600 hectares of barley, 3,600 hectares of peas and 5,100 hectares of oats; Khmelnitsky, which sowed 14,800 hectares of wheat, 59,100 hectares of barley, 2,600 hectares of peas and 2,500 hectares of oats; Zhytomyr region, which sowed 13,700 hectares of wheat, 15,900 hectares of barley, 2,600 hectares of peas and 17,900 hectares of oats, and Vinnytsia region, which sowed 11,500 hectares of wheat, 52,300 hectares of barley, 6,000 hectares of peas and 1,100 hectares of oats.

Poltava region farmers have completed sowing early grain and leguminous crops, allocating 6,500 hectares for wheat, 73,000 hectares for barley, 8,500 hectares for peas and 2,300 hectares for oats.

Sunflower was sown on 470,100 hectares. Soybeans were sown in nine regions. Agricultural producers in 15 regions have started sowing corn, which has already been sown on 120,000 hectares.

Sugar beets were sown on 157,600 hectares. The largest area under this crop, 42,000 hectares, is in the Vinnytsia region.

The area under spring crops may decrease 500,000 hectares, or 3.7% this year compared to last season, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy said.