In Western Ukraine, there's a noticeable increase in vegetable farming, with both small and large-scale farmers expanding their storage capacities by approximately 20%. This expansion across regions is accompanied by a growing demand for training in storage technologies and the construction of new storage facilities, including in the Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Despite these advancements, challenges persist, particularly in the storage and fluctuations in market prices.
Last year, the price of onions experienced significant fluctuations: starting at 0.26 euros/kg in the autumn, it dropped to 0.20 euros/kg by the New Year, and plummeted further to 0.15 euros/kg from February to April due to an oversupply of low-quality produce. Although there was a brief spike to 0.62 euros/kg between mid-April and mid-May, prices fell again to 0.11 euros/kg by June. High electricity costs, particularly for those reliant on generators, where the cost of electricity is 2–3 times higher than grid power, have compounded these challenges. As a result, some farmers in Central Ukraine have reduced their vegetable cultivation areas or ceased production altogether due to the losses incurred.
Improper harvesting techniques are identified as the main cause of these losses. For example, vegetables like cabbage, carrots, and beets should be harvested at temperatures below 12 degrees Celsius for optimal storage. Onions also require careful handling, with specific drying temperatures recommended, preventing disease and spoilage.
Additionally, labour shortages are leading farmers to mechanize harvesting processes, often resulting in the purchase of older equipment that can damage produce, further decreasing its storage life. Large enterprises manage to mitigate electricity outages with appropriate generator capacities.
Yet, the unpredictable nature of the vegetable market, influenced by numerous small-scale producers and external factors like weather and potential import influxes, makes price and demand forecasting challenging.
Source: agrotimes.ua