Ukrainian farmers will once again change their crop structure ahead of sowing.

Farmers will reduce the share of wheat and barley, instead, they will sow record-high areas with winter rapeseed, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy reported. 45% of farmers do not plan to significantly reduce the area sown under winter crops, 38% of entrepreneurs may increase the area, and 14% will not plant winter crops this year.

“This ratio generally corresponds to agricultural practice in Ukraine, where every year up to 20% of agricultural producers do not participate in sowing winter crops,” the ministry notes.

In general, the acreage under winter crops may increase by 0.5 million hectares, or by 8%, compared to last season. Rapeseed remains the key factor in the expansion of cultivated area, these crops could increase by almost 40% and reach a record 1.9 million hectares.

According to the ministry, the key challenges for the 2024 winter crop sowing campaign will remain the lack of finances, low liquidity in the agricultural sector, and uncertainty regarding market prospects.