The mass start of the spring sowing campaign in Ukraine may be delayed by two to four weeks due to the cold winter and remaining snow cover in some regions, ProAgro Group  reports.

According to Oleh Khomenko, CEO of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club, fieldwork has already begun in the southern regions, while fields in central and northern Ukraine remain covered with about 5 centimeters of snow.

Because of this, farmers have to wait until the soil fully thaws. As a result, the available window for sowing may shrink to about 45 days, during which farmers must plant the main spring crops, including corn, sunflower, and spring barley.

According to the expert, such tight timing will increase the workload for farms that are already facing a shortage of labor.

“This means we will have to work almost around the clock. The work will be more difficult due to the lack of workers, as many agricultural employees have been mobilized,” Khomenko said.

Missing optimal sowing deadlines could lead to lower harvests and financial losses due to unsown land.

Russia’s full-scale invasion continues to significantly affect the agricultural sector. According to estimates, around 23% of Ukraine’s farmland remains inaccessible due to landmines.

Farmers are also dealing with rising fuel costs and a shortage of mineral fertilizers, which experts estimate at about 220 thousand tons. This could reduce crop production by around 5%.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy said the delay in sowing does not pose risks to the country’s food security.

Earlier it was reported that the cost of this year’s sowing campaign may increase by about 15% compared to last year and reach around 700 billion hryvnias.

Source: The Kyiv Independent