Ukraine sows excessive amounts of spring crops, won't have high prices for basic foods - ministry

MOSCOW. May 8 (Interfax) - Ukraine plans to cultivate several times more grains and oilseeds than the domestic market needs, thus remaining a major exporter and influencing global prices, Ukrainian media cited First Deputy Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Taras Vysotsky as telling the national telethon.

"Kiev does not control about 20% of Ukrainian cropland, which is why Ukraine is unable to use its agrarian potential to the fullest. However, grains and oilseeds are cultivated on about 20 million hectares of land, including about 13 million hectares to be assigned for spring crops," Vysotsky said.

Weather is good for sowing, which allows Ukraine to catch up with the sowing pace, he said.

"It is planned to sow enough grains, first of all, barley and corn, to meet the domestic demand. Actually, the harvest will exceed the domestic demand several times. We will remain a significant grain exporter next year. The same is true about oilseeds, as we plan to produce several times more soybeans and sunflower seeds than necessary for the domestic market," Vysotsky said. In his words, there will be no shortage or high prices of basic foods, such as cereals, in 2024-2025.

"The whole world is watching the sowing process, on which the final price, essential for the domestic market among others, depends. It is already clear there will be no shortage of animal feed. The sowing of sugar beet is practically over. The areas are such that the harvest will exceed domestic consumption. So, consumers should not worry about this product either," Vysotsky said.