Small agricultural producers on the verge of extinction: details

The Ministry of Agrarian Policy has published the results of a survey on the plans and preparation of agricultural producers for the sowing campaign of winter crops for the 2024 harvest. The vast majority of farmers do not plan to significantly change the sown areas under winter crops compared to the previous season. This is reported by minagro, writes agronews.ua.
In particular, almost half of the farmers (45%) do not plan to significantly reduce the area planted with winter crops. At the same time, 38% of the interviewed entrepreneurs can increase the sown area. 14% of farmers said that they will not sow winter crops this year.
In general, the acreage under winter crops may increase by 0.5 million hectares or by 8% compared to last season. the key factor in the expansion of cultivated areas remains rapeseed, crops under it can increase by almost 40% to a record 1.9 million hectares.
"This year, we have already observed that the share of sown oil crops, namely soybean, sunflower, rapeseed, has increased. This was primarily due to expensive logistics. We observe this trend in the plans of farmers for the next season," explained First Deputy Minister of Agricultural Policy Taras Vysotskyi.
The lack of financial resources and low liquidity of the agricultural sector remain the key challenges affecting the sowing campaign. At the same time, uncertainty regarding market prospects is cited by the majority of producers as the main problem – more than a third of the respondents. In addition, a quarter of the survey participants indicated that the decrease in economic motivation also negatively affected their expectations regarding sowing and the future harvest of winter crops.
The survey also showed that the issue of fertilizer application remains one of the most sensitive for farmers. Large and medium-sized manufacturers are ready to use them in full. In particular, the level of fertilizer application is expected to be at a level that is half the agronomic need (47%). The level of expected use of plant protection products for the winter crop of 2024 is forecast at the level of 56% of the need. Only 10% of respondents are ready to use fertilizers at the level of 100% of the need, plant protection means - at 18%.
Large and medium-sized producers also give the highest rating for the level of provision of fuel and seeds. Currently, the average level of provision of fuel is estimated at 53%, with seeds - 60%.