In the Kirovohrad region, vegetable harvesting is underway, particularly cucumbers and cabbage. This year, the area planted with vegetables increased by 100 hectares compared to last year. However, a late start to harvesting—caused by frosts in April—and high transportation costs from other regions have driven up prices in local markets. According to Hryhoriy Arsiyriy from the regional agro-industrial department, the delayed season has led to a temporary reliance on vegetables from other parts of Ukraine.
Over the past several years, vegetable crops in the region have been grown on about 18,000 hectares. Despite the spring frosts, which slightly delayed sowing, the increased planting area offers hope for a stable harvest comparable to last year's 269,000 tons. Across Ukraine, the total vegetable area dropped from 397,000 hectares in 2023 to 286,000 hectares in 2024. Many farmers replanted after the frosts, which makes tracking exact areas difficult.
Cold weather and fluctuating temperatures have affected plant health, increasing the risk of fungal diseases in cucumbers and tomatoes. Farmers across Central and Eastern Europe are facing similar challenges. Greenhouse production is becoming more essential due to climate volatility. Despite the expected drop in cucumber and cabbage prices during peak harvest, they likely won't fall to last year's levels due to inflation and market dynamics.
Local farmers like Gennadiy Taktarov have felt the impact firsthand. He planted cucumbers under agrofiber in April, but frost damage led to stressed plants and reduced yields. Cabbage, which is more resilient to cold, has performed better. Market prices for cucumbers in Kropyvnytskyi currently range from 30 to 50 UAH per kg, while cabbage sells for 15 to 35 UAH per kg, depending on source and freshness. Prices fluctuate due to weather and transport costs.
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