Kiev forecasts smaller grain harvest in 2024

MOSCOW. Nov 1 (Interfax) - Ukraine will have a smaller grain harvest in 2024, as some of the fields will not be sown due to shrinking production profitability, Ukrainian media quoted Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Nikolai Solsky as saying at a press lunch in Kiev on Tuesday.

"I think we will have a smaller harvest next year due to a combination of factors this year. First of all, everything [cropland] was sawn to the maximum by last year's inertia. Secondly, the weather was almost perfect," Solsky said.

As to whether Ukraine may not sow crops on certain fields, Solsky said, "Most likely, yes." "No such thing happened in the outgoing year but I believe the problem will exist next year. Regretfully, it is mathematically better for some companies to pay the rent without sowing crops instead of [losing] results of the year's work," he said.

Solsky declined to specify the share of cropland to remain unsown with crops but said that would affect the entire Ukrainian produce of grains and oilseeds.

The minister gave the example of sunflower seeds, which cost $200 per tonne. "In the best years, when we had [the yield of] 3.2 tonnes, the company's value paid off within a year. This year farmers are likely to break even if they harvest 3.2 tonnes," he said.

Winter sowing is nearing completion, winter crops are growing, but they are in poor condition due to the autumn drought, he said.

"This may be an unpopular statement but the reduction of winter wheat crops in favor of others is a normal process. It may be painful if farmers have sowed certain crops but have to replant, unfortunately, such things happen but that is a completely impractical story," he said.

Ukraine cut the sowing of winter wheat crops in 2022 as well, Solsky said.