Production of grain and leguminous crops in 2017 will decrease to 62 million tons

The volume of production of grain and leguminous crops in 2017 is projected at the level of 62.2 million tons, 5.9% lower compared to 2016.

This was reported by Yuri Lupenko, Director of the National Scientific Center Institute of Agrarian Economics, Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

According to him, the decrease in the gross harvest of grains and legumes is mainly caused by the decrease of corn yield by 19.2% to 5.33 t/ha. Despite a slight increase in the area under this crop, its production will decrease by 14.2% to 24 million tons against last year's 28 million tons.

"This year, wheat is harvested by 2.4% more than last year's volume of 26.7 million tons. Such volumes of production fully satisfy the domestic demand for grain," the academician noted.

It is noted that due to the extension of buckwheat areas by 18.4%, while maintaining its yield at last year's level of 1.15 t/ha, the production of this crop amounts to about 210.5 thousand tons, which is 19.3% more than in 2016. Pea yield increased the most significantly — by 52.1% up to 1135.3 thousand tons, and rye — by 32.6% up to 519 thousand tons.

"A 12.3% decrease of barley areas could not be compensated even by the growthof its yield to 3.4 t/ha. In 2017, the production of barley is expected to decrease by 9.8% to 8.51 million tons. Due to the decrease in the area of cultivation, the production of oats will decrease by 1.6% to 491.9 thousand tons. Sorghum will be harvested 10, 4% less than in 2016 — 245.2 thousand tons," commented Yuri Lupenko.

The report says that due to the reduction in area by half and the reduced yield, millet will be harvested 51.7% less than last year — 91.5 thousand tons.

Earlier it was reported that Ukraine in 9 months of 2017 exported grain for the amount of USD 4.9 billion, including corn — USD 2.4 billion, wheat — USD 1.9 billion, barley — USD 0.6 billion.