Over 50% of farmers noted that profitability for each of the major crops has dropped in 2013. Such results are outlined in survey of independent agricultural enterprises, conducted by AgriSurvey in January 2014.

According to the survey results, the profitability of major crops growing (wheat, corn, sunflower, soybean, rapeseed) in 2013 has increased only in 23% of the farmers, while more than half of the surveyed producers of agricultural products indicated decreasing in profitability of each major crop. For January 2014, the biggest number of surveyed owners of independent agricultural enterprises (57%) complained of declining profitability of growing wheat. According to the information provided by farmers about the financial indicators of their enterprises, profitability of growing wheat declined by about 5,7% this year. According to calculation done by Association "Ukrainian Agribusiness Club” (UCAB), wheat profitability in 2013 will be 5%, versus 11% in 2012.

Regional differences between the results indicate a significant decline in profitability of the major crops in Sumy and Poltava regions. Farmers in this regions most negatively evaluated the profitability of growing wheat, corn, sunflower and soybean in 2013. Instead, farmers from Central and South-Central regions estimate their profitability more optimistic.

"Despite of the lack of definitive data on major crops profitability, in 2013 Ukrainian farmers have got less profitability as compared with previous years. The rapid decline in prices for agricultural products, when compared with January 2013 the price for wheat of third class had decreased by 16%, and for corn on the EXW terms – by 39%, and the lack of capacities for storage in the period of massive arrivals of products forced to sell agricultural products in unfavorable for farmers conditions. Integration into the world market is always linked with vulnerability to his fluctuations, and only in February 2014, prices for main crops moved up to the level that guarantees profitability of production",-says the Coordinator of Sociological and Marketing Research of AgriSurvey Anna Kvit.

* More information about the changes in profitability of major crops, plans for growing major crops and purchasing of seeds and CPP in 2014 you can find in the survey “Agrobarometr 1.0.  The demand for seeds and agrochemical products”.