Ukraine's Lviv oblast farmers plan to increase sown area by 2%

Farmers in the region around the Ukrainian city of Lviv are expected to increase the planted area for agricultural produce in 2022 as they look to capitalise on the relative calm of the region and high international prices.

The region is in the west of Ukraine and has been relatively unscathed by the Russian invasion that is now in its fourth week. 

According to data from the Department of Agro-Industrial Development of the Lviv Military Administration, sown areas under spring grains, legumes, and oilseeds in 2022 will increase by at least 2%, with total area including winter crops reaching 706,300 hectares.

The agency expects 439,700 ha will be sown with spring crops, of which 141,200 ha are spring cereals and legumes, 136,500 ha are industrial crops, and 139,800 ha are potatoes and vegetables.

According to the department, last year Ukraine harvested 100 million tons of grains and oilseeds, with more than 50% of that volume exported.

In the Lviv region, the gross harvest of grain and legumes amounted to 1.8 million tons and 540,000 tons of oilseeds.

“This year, the farmers of the Lviv region will do their best to achieve last year's grain and oilseeds harvest. But even if the average yield is lower, we will definitely be able to satisfy the domestic need,” said Tatyana Getma, director of the Department of Agro-Industrial Development of the Lviv Military Administration, told Agricensus.

However, the most pressing issue is the question of fuel supply - with only limited physical volumes available and a lack of options to buy diesel - along with the supply of fertilizers, plant protection products, as well as seeds.

Fuel

The physical absence of fuel and the difficulty in purchasing it has a corresponding effect on price levels, with wholesale fuel prices exceeding UAH50/litre ($1.69/litre).

Farmers may also face challenges in financing key inputs, amid warnings that payment is required up front.

“Distributors still refuse farmers the opportunity to purchase resources with deferred payment, so funds are required,” the official statement from the Lviv Military Administration said.

Fertilizers and plant protection products

The supply of fertilizers amounts to about 80% of the required volume - largely due to the closure of exports - but the cost is twice as high, the agro-industrial development department warned.

“For the spring-summer period, agricultural enterprises plan to use 36,900 tons of mineral fertilizer nutrients. This is 90,000 tons in physical mass. According to the survey, 40% is present in the farms, and 60% still needs to be purchased,” Getma added.

Seeds

Farmers are experiencing difficulties with the supply of seeds of crops that are imported, namely, corn, soybeans, and sunflowers.

“If there is a risk that it will not be possible to deliver on time before the start of sowing, a replacement with domestic ones is needed,” representatives of the department told local agronomists.

In addition, due to the fact that accounts are blocked, budgetary organizations that carry out agricultural activities cannot purchase the necessary resources making it difficult to conduct a sowing campaign on their territory.

Finally, the department confirmed that winter crops and rapeseed in the Lviv region, planted on an area of ​​236,000 ha, overwintered well and the first feeding of winter crops has already been carried out by the vast majority of farms.