June 7 2006, 13:42

Ukrainian vegetable producers utilize film and agro-fiber 30% more frequently

The companies - suppliers of cover materials observe 30% sales growth for film and agro-fiber this season in Ukraine comparing to the previous year.

"A growing number of vegetable producers try to use cover materials in order to grow earlier high-priced commodities and assure that future harvest is protected from temperature fluctuations" Vladimir Kozyrskiy commented this situation as the Director of ZIVEKO company.

Dense film (23-30 microns) meets more demand this season, especially among the producers of early potato and fresh herbs. The latter is covered in fall. The reason is complicated weather conditions during two previous years.

Southern regions of Ukraine - Crimea, Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts, and also Zaporizhzhya and Lugansk oblasts are the main buyers of cover materials. Ago-fiber is not so widely used as film, though it is more effective, to the specialist's opinion. Vegetable producers do not know much about new technology, and the price for the material was expensive. Still, the price for agro-fiber has declined lower the price for film, cause there are agro-fiber of Belarusian and Chinese origin imported to Ukraine. The price for this commodity is lower, but the quality is lower too. Agro-fiber was earlier supplied by EU countries. The price for film grew 15-20% because of the increased production cost.

The companies look forward to the significant demand growth for agro-fiber; consequently film is expected to be less frequently utilized as cover material. Agro-fiber is very perspective for strawberry producers: utilization of black agro-fiber for mulching and white agro-fiber as cover material proved to be the most effective.