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AGRARIAN MARKET NEWS 19.4 MLN. TONS OF GRAIN WERE HARVESTED AS OF SEPTEMBER 1, 2000 According to the Ministry for Agrarian Policy, as of September 1, 2000 agricultural enterprises thrashed some 10 mln. ha of grain crop acreage yielding 19.4 mln. tons of grain. The latter figure lost 1.8 mln. tons as compared to the respective period of 1999. At present, farms keep on harvesting groats, while hard corn is to be cropped in the middle of September. This year acreage of grain and leguminous crops totaled some 13.8 mln. ha. Gross production of grain within the present year should come to 24.5 mln. tons, as forecasted by the Ministry for Agrarian Policy. At the same time, commercial agrarian offices predict the output at 22 mln. tons of grain. The 1999 grain harvest amounted to 24.6 mln. tons, including some 14 mln. tons of wheat. THE GOVERNMENT PERMITTED TO USE FODDER GRAIN FOR FOOD PURPOSES Pursuant to the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, grain-processing enterprises are permitted to use grain of soft wheat of Grades 4 and 5 with over 18% gluten content (3rd quality group), as well as with a 10-18% gluten content (1st-2nd quality groups) to manufacture bakery flour, which may be subgraded to superior quality wheat. Such a decision sprang from the fact that grain harvest 2000 may only sum to 12.5 mln. tons with bread wheat contirbuting no more than 40-45% to this figure. In 1999, 13.5 mln. tons of wheat were cropped, including 8 mln. tons of bread wheat. The demand of internal market for bread grain amounts to 6.5-7 mln. tons. It should be noted that in 1999 the government made similar decision to use wheat of Grades 5 and 6 for food purposes. SOUTHERN REGIONS BEGAN TO HARVEST SUNFLOWER Sunflower harvesting has started in southern regions of Ukraine, whereas the rest of regions will do so in the first decade of September. According to regional representatives, sunflower seeds’ crop in 2000 should outrun the 1999 figure of some 2.7 mln. tons. Average crop capacity is expected at 13-15 centners per ha, while in 1999 the figure was 9.9 centners per ha. The Ministry for Agrarian Policy predicts 2.8 mln. tons as sunflower crop in 2000. The State Statistics Committee reports that farms sowed some 2.9 mln. ha of sunflower in the present year, which comes tie with 1999 acreage. SUGAR BEET’S HARVESTING HAS BEGAN Several regions of Ukraine have begun to crop sugar beets. It is anticipated to harvest about 13.9 mln. tons of sugar beet in the present year, which equals the 1999 figure. According to National Academy of Ukrainian Sugar-producers (NAUS), in September 2000 average weight of beet root all over Ukraine is above that of early September 1999, provided similar figures of sugar content. In compliance with NAUS data, as of the end of August average weight of beet root came to 246 gr. against 220 gr. in the respective period of 1999, whereas sugar content of beet accounted for 13.4 % as compared to 13.9% in 1999. Farms expect to harvest some 887.7 ths. ha of sugar beet. FLOOR PRICES FOR SUGAR CAME INTO EFFECT Pursuant to the Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated May 31, 2000, concerning regulation of the sugar market, floor prices for sugar came into effect starting September 1, 2000, being fixed at UAH/t 2,000. Besides, in compliance with the Decree, fixed quotas and floor prices will be effective since September 1, 2000 through September 1, 2001. Presently, retail price for sugar makes UAH/kg. 3. Sugar market operators believe that prices for the commodity will remain stable in the nearest future to drop down later as the sugar crop 2000 appears on the market. Production output of sugar crop 2000 is expected at 1.35 mln. tons, while the annual domestic demand for sugar sums to 1.8-2 mln. tons.
Last update: Thursday, 23-Nov-2000 00:00:00 EET |
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