Ukrainian farmers sow third of forecast spring crops

MOSCOW. May 3 (Interfax) - Ukraine sowed 3.407 million hectares with spring grain and leguminous crops as of May 2, 1.5 times more than the year before, Ukrainian media reported with a reference to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food on Friday.

The sown areas of grains and legumes are forecast at 10.6 million hectares in 2024, 395,000 hectares less than in 2023. Therefore, 32% of the forecast areas have already been sown in Ukraine.

According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food on Friday, farmers sowed 861,000 hectares of spring crops over the past week. Wheat was sown on 240,700 hectares, barley was sown on 775,700 hectares, peas were sown on 161,100 hectares, oats were sown on 159,900 hectares, and millet was sown on 16,700 hectares.

Additionally, sunflower was sown on 2,967,500 hectares, soybeans were sown on 566,700 hectares, and sugar beet on 248,400 hectares.

In April, the Ukrainian Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food forecast the gross production of grains and oilseeds at 74 million tonnes, including about 52.4 million tonnes of grains, in 2024.