The reduction of cultivated areas occurred due to hostilities or temporary occupation of territories.

In Ukraine, as a result of the full-scale invasion of the Russian invaders, the cultivated area decreased by 25%.

Taras Vysotskyi, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, announced this. He noted the growing role of the agricultural sector of the country’s economy.

However, according to him, due to the Russian invasion, the industry suffered colossal losses – a decrease in cultivated areas, a reduction in production, a drop in exports, expensive logistics, and more. All these factors, as well as weather conditions, will affect the spring sowing campaign.

According to preliminary data of the structural subdivisions of regional state administrations, as of December 30, the expected sown area of ​​all categories of farms in the controlled territory of Ukraine for the 2023 harvest should be 21.8 million hectares, which is 6.8 million hectares less than the figure for 2021 (28 .6 million hectares).

“If we are talking about the sowing campaign, we cannot yet use approximately 25% of the area due to hostilities or temporary occupation of the territories. After the de-occupation, it will take a long time to demine and clean the territories. What is left by the occupier requires at least several months, and even a year to return to production. It was still not possible to sow part of the area due to unfavorable weather conditions. Therefore, in the spring, we need to cover the deficit of unsown winter crops,” said Vysotskyi.

At the same time, he emphasized, it is still difficult to predict the current gross harvest of agricultural crops, which will depend significantly on the weather and climate conditions during the field works, as well as the financial and logistical support of a specific agricultural producer. Including – from the presence of seeds and fertilizers.

“Already now, it is possible to predict a decrease in their introduction to 50% of the scientifically based norms due to the increase in prices. The use of cheaper technologies provokes a decrease in production,” the deputy minister emphasized.

Vysotsky summarized that the key problem for farmers remains expensive logistics. Also, according to him, the energy crisis has a negative impact on the agricultural sector.

Agriculture in Ukraine – what is known

As reported by , according to the calculations of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, as of November 22, 2022, 3.8 million hectares of wheat were sown in Ukraine, or 94% of the forecast; with barley – 613 thousand hectares, or 91%, with rye – 79.2 thousand hectares, or 93%.

Meanwhile, despite the war, Ukraine retained its place in the world’s top five agricultural exporters. Since the beginning of the war, the state has been able to export more than 40 million tons of grain, oil and their processing products.