In 2024, the cultivation areas for white cabbage in Ukraine are expected to decrease by 15-18% compared to the previous season, marking a significant decline as reported by the marketing manager of vegetable seed company Syngenta, Yevhen Kolin'ko.
Several factors contribute to this decrease. Firstly, there's a shortage of labour, as cabbage harvesting is predominantly done manually. Secondly, storage poses challenges with significant energy costs for ventilation and packaging. Thirdly, the current market price for cabbage remains notably low. Fourthly, managing pests like thrips remains a significant challenge, impacting the quality of cabbage yields.
However, there are positive aspects to cabbage cultivation. Cabbage remains a staple in many dishes, ensuring steady market demand. Additionally, the cabbage season spans year-round, with early varieties planted in December in regions like Odessa and Transcarpathia, while late cabbage harvesting continues in Dnipropetrovsk.
Kolin'ko suggests diversifying sales channels, including local markets near cultivation areas, and exploring processing options such as pickling and semi-processing. Currently, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are major consumers of vegetables, including cabbage, ensuring consistent demand.
source: agroportal.ua