Ukraine's KSG Agro harvesting sunflower seeds, yield higher than expected

MOSCOW. Sept 25 (Interfax) - Ukraine's KSG Agro has begun harvesting sunflower seeds, which it has planted on 7,360 hectares, Ukrainian media reported, citing the group's press service.

The group has so far harvested 6,000 tonnes from 2,400 hectares.

"As a result of harvesting a little more than 32% of the planted area the sunflower seed yield amounted to 2.5 tonnes/ha. This is a good result, as by preliminary estimates we forecasted 2.3 tonnes/ha. This result was facilitated by both the high quality of the seed stock and favorable weather conditions, which were characterized by a sufficient level of precipitation in May and June," the head of the group's crop farming division, Dmitry Yemelchenko was quoted as saying.

He said harvesting this season has been protracted because late crops were planted on almost 1,500 ha. The group plans to complete its harvest between October 15 and 20.

The group's farms are also planting winter wheat and have so far planted 1,500 ha of the 4,000 ha planned for winter crops. Planting has been paused due to dry soil and will resume after it rains, the press release said.

KSG Agro is a vertically integrated group with operations in pig farming, as well as production, storage and processing of grains and oil crops. The group has about 21,000 ha of land.