Mykolaiv region may lose a third of fruit harvest due to April frosts
28 April 07:57
Due to spring frosts in Mykolaiv region, the future fruit harvest is under threat, while local farmers have decided to increase the area allocated for vegetables. EastFruit writes about this, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
According to Olena Piskun, director of the Department of Agricultural Development of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration, this year 30 thousand hectares will be used for vegetable crops, while last year this area was 25 thousand hectares.
“Attention to vegetables is returning, and Mykolaiv region is expanding the area under vegetable crops,” Piskun emphasized.
In particular, about 3 thousand hectares of vegetables such as onions, carrots and beets have already been sown, and 6 thousand hectares of potatoes have been planted. Another 3,000 hectares are planned to be planted with food and melons.
However, due to unfavorable weather conditions in the region, fruit trees were severely damaged.
“The fruit trees that were in bloom at the time were severely affected. These are stone fruit trees – apricot, cherry plum, sweet cherry – almost 100% of them died,” explained Piskun.
According to her, up to 80% of pear trees died, and up to 50% of cherry, peach and plum trees. Apple trees that have not yet blossomed have not yet been affected.
The official asked agricultural enterprises to record fruit crop losses caused by the frost through the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in order to preserve tax benefits. According to preliminary estimates, Mykolaiv region will lose about 30% of the planned fruit harvest this year.
