All Ukrainian farmlands under Kiev control to be sown in 2024 - ministry

MOSCOW. April 15 (Interfax) - All Ukrainian farmlands under Kiev's control will be sown this year, and the country is not planning to reduce the size of areas under crops, Ukrainian media quoted First Deputy Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Taras Vysotsky as saying on national television.

That said, farmers have somewhat modified their priorities in choosing crops that they grow, particularly expanding areas under soybeans and sugar beets, while reducing those under corn and wheat, Vysotsky said.

"This is not something substantial. What counts most is that work is going on across the entire territory of the country, and there's willingness to keep on producing and processing products. This means that there are no critical risks for the domestic food security. There'll be enough of various products for Ukrainians," he said.

The forecast for spring crops in the 2024 vegetation period is favorable, as there was abundant precipitation in winter, and there is enough moisture in the soil now, he said.

While Ukraine still experiences some logistical issues, the situation in this field has improved over the past two and a half years, Vysotsky said. In the past few months, Ukraine has shipped 85% to 87% of its grain and grain products intended for exports via the Black Sea corridor unilaterally declared by Kiev, which gives grounds to expect that the country would be able to export 60% to 70% of all crops to be grown in 2024, he said.