Ukrainian farmers to increase use of mineral fertilizers by 50% in next 5-7 years

Ukrainian farmers will increase the use of mineral fertilizers by 50% in the next five to seven years, Director General of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club Association Volodymyr Lapa has predicted.

The expert stressed that in recent years, there has been a trend towards an increase in the use of mineral fertilizers. Another thing is that the structure of the use of mineral fertilizers is changing, in particular, in the direction of such products as liquid nitrogen, he added.

While commenting on the provision of farmers with mineral fertilizers during the spring sowing campaign in 2012, Lapa noted that in the 2011/2012 marketing year there were certain peculiarities that influenced farmers, in particular, the use of export duties on main grain crops from July to October, which prevented farmers from selling grain at a profit.

Consequently, many farms were in no hurry to sell grain and did not have enough money to buy the necessary amount of mineral fertilizers.

"Therefore, we can speak about a significant seasonality of demand, which may cause certain unevenness of supplies in the next few months," the expert said.

The difference of this season also lies in the expected significant increase in the volume of spring field work due to the probable loss of winter crops.

Lapa said that theoretically, domestic production can fully cover the needs of domestic producers in terms of nitrogen fertilizers, but in terms of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers, the situation is somewhat different. But even in terms of nitrogen fertilizers, imports are conducted, as a means of balancing the market, he said.


ukrinform