Ukraine Gathers First Million Tons of Grain

The first million tons of grain has been harvested in Ukraine. This was announced by the Agricultural Policy Minister Yuriy Melnyk.

According to the Ministry’s press service, he said that as of June 30, 2008, in Ukraine grain crops had been harvested on the area exceeding 340,000 hectares.

The minister also said that this year almost 60,000 grain harvesters, of which more than 1,000 were purchased in 2008, would be engaged in the harvesting.

Yu. Melnyk pointed to the fact that the government has approved a number of important decisions to ensure a successful harvesting and high-yields. In particular, it has resolved the issues concerning the allocation of additional funds for the Agrarian Fund in the amount of UAH 150 million and determined the order of grain procurements to the State Food Reserve by the Agrarian Fund. “Today, the Agrarian Fund is already holding tenders at the Agrarian Exchange,” the Minister noted.

He also said, specifically, that the issues concerning fuel supplies from the Stabilization Fund, transportation of harvest by the railways, and supplies of the necessary number of freight wagons to this end have been resolved.

It should be reminded that the Agrarian Fund representatives said that the procurements of the newly harvested grain to the State Food Reserve would start as early as July 1.