Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center expecting grain, legume harvest of 49.6 mln tonnes
MOSCOW. July 4 (Interfax) - The approximate harvest of grain, legume and cereal crops in Ukraine may gross about 49.6 million tonnes in 2023, considering the size of area under winter and sown spring crops, versus 53.1 million tonnes a year ago, Ukrainian media said with the reference to the APK-Inform analytical agency, which, in turn, cited the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center.
"An analysis of specific meteorological conditions of vegetation of grain, legume and cereal crops, the status of crops, the available reserves of productive moisture in the soil and agro-meteorological calculations allows us to expect the 2023 yield of winter wheat in the amount of 4.3 tonnes per hectare, winter rye in the amount of 3.2 tonnes per hectare, winter barley in the amount of 3.5 tonnes per hectare, spring barley in the amount of 3.2 tonnes per hectare, spring wheat in the amount of 3.7 tonnes per hectare, oats in the amount of 2.5 tonnes per hectare, peas in the amount of 2.3 tonnes per hectare, corn in the amount of 6.5 tonnes per hectare, millet in the amount of 2.1 tonnes per hectare, and buckwheat in the amount of 1.1 tonnes per hectare," the report said.
The report described agro-meteorological conditions as satisfactory for this year's grain harvest in Ukraine. However, there have been certain unfavorable stretches in the vegetation period, which may have a negative impact on the crop yield. Excessive rains in April led to overmoistening of the soil in a number of regions, which created problems for sowing early spring grain and legume crops at the optimal time.
The prevailing weather in May (frequent rains, decrease in air temperature, increase in relative humidity in the daytime, cloudiness and prolonged dews) helped contain droughts.
The June weather in Ukraine was characterized with significant temperature fluctuations, there was a shortage of effective precipitation in many areas of the southern, central and northern regions, which led to a reduction in the vegetation season, and premature and simultaneous ripening of the grain of early cereal crops in the central and southern regions, the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center said.
As reported earlier, the Ukrainian Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food is expecting to harvest 46 million tonnes of grain and legume crops in 2023, down 10%-15% from the year before. This is still 2.5 times higher than the domestic market demand. There is no risk of a grain deficit on the domestic market, the ministry said.