Ukraine: a future agricultural frontrunner?
Full details
Authors & editors | |
Publisher | Milling & Grain |
Year of publication | 2017 March |
Languages | |
Medium | Digital |
Edition | 1 |
Topics | |
Tags | |
Scope & content | By Chris Jackson, Export Manager UK TAG This month I have had the privilege to visit Kiev for the very first time to see first hand something of Ukraine’s agricultural industry. In a country with more than 4272 million hectares of productive land and a population of only 42.5 million people, agriculture makes up a major part of their GDP. In a system where land cannot be bought or sold, the farming companies have to negotiate leases from the freeholders who usually own very small parcels of land. The local landowners who individually own very few acres seem very willing to lease their share to some very major corporations, some of who have turnovers running into billions of dollars. The country itself is rapidly developing its very significant rural economy to rank ‘top 10 exporters of foodstuffs worldwide. Its major customers being China, India, Turkey and the EU, outside of which it still remains. 60 percent of its production comes from two regions, Mykolaiv and Potava, with maize/corn, wheat and barley being its main cereal based crops, all responsible for some 60 million tonnes per year. Potatoes however, are the main vegetable crop along with sugar beet and vegetables. It can be believed that with improving road and logistics, this country will become even more influential in the world’s agriculture economy…Read more. |