KIEV: Over the past 10 years, the area of apple orchards in Ukraine decreased 1.5 times, at the same time apple production increased by approximately the same amount.
This was discussed during the press conference “The Apple Business of Ukraine 2015: endless possibilities or hidden threats?” reports Tatyana Getman project manager at “APK-Inform: Vegetables and Fruits”.
“Despite the continuing trend of the reduction of apple orchard area in Ukraine, the production of these fruits in the country over the last decade has increased by almost 1.5,” said T.Getman.
The main reasons for the rapid growth of apple production in the country, according to experts, are the intensification of production, new orchards’ entries into fruit growing and an increase in average yields.
“The reduction of apple growing areas in Ukraine is connected to the uprooting of old inefficient plants with low yields,” continues T.Getman, “At the same time, farmers have planted intensive orchards which take up less space, but allow the gathering of more crops due to higher yields.”
According to experts, the apple sector is one of the fastest growing areas in Ukraine’s agricultural sector, due to high demand for this product both within the country and with exporters. According to one expert, apples occupy 30% of the Ukrainian fruit basket and are the leaders in terms of exports among fruit and vegetable products.
A detailed forecast of production and prices of apples in Ukraine for the 2015/16 season will be presented on 13 August at the Fifth International Conference “Apple Business of Ukraine 2015” in Kamenetz-Podolsk. Also leading industry experts will talk about the features of the Ukrainian and European apple sector and trends shaping the world apple market this season.
