Precision farming in Ukraine, results of a webinar for Dutch companies

The webinar Precision farming in Ukraine: opportunities for Dutch business, co-organized by the Agricultural counsellor in Ukraine, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), and the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) took place on December 14. 

Webinar precision farming
Beeld: ©UCAB

On the assignment of the Agricultural counsellor in Ukraine and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB) performed and outlined opportunities for the Dutch companies on the Ukrainian market.

During the webinar, Oleh Nesterov, Deputy General Director, committee coordinator (UCAB) presented the results of the survey of the precision farming in Ukraine, and outlined opportunities for the Dutch companies on the Ukrainian market.  Two representatives of the Ukrainian agricultural companies: Dmytro Zaitsev, Head of Precision Agriculture Department of the Continental Farmers Group, and Dmytro Hlushchenko, Director of Private agricultural enterprise "Ukraine" shared their experience, needs and advice in the new products.

Webinar precision farming
Beeld: ©RVO

Most popular technologies in Ukraine are:

  • Electronic field maps - well used by middle and large –sized agricultural companies;
  • Heading indicators, autopilots, GPS (trackers) and fuel control sensors are used by every 3rd small farmer and 85-92% of middle-sized and large companies;
  • Satellite images /NDVI index use is about 16% with the smaller farmers and 71% with the large agriholdings;
  • Soil moisture sensors are used by 39% of the farmers;
  • Programs for forecasting the appearance of pests and diseases are the least spread due to limited possibility to take into account all factors, and programs of local diseases, pests, have quite predictable forecasts, which are already known to the agronomist of the enterprise.

Experts expect that the use of  precision farming technologies will expand in Ukraine even more and the following developments will contribute to this:

  • A broad range of enterprises active in Ukraine: from 5 to 500 thousand hectares. They have various requests and a lot of necessary equipment; already available;
  • Application of more innovative technologies helps reduce production cost;
  • Global trends of more efficient use of land resources, while minimizing application of agrochemicals;
  • Opening of the land market in Ukraine, EU Green Deal, reform of irrigation in Ukraine.

If you missed the webinar, you can watch the recording on our Youtube channel.  Final presentation made by Oleh Nesterov during the event and the study can be found on the page of the study of the precision farming in Ukraine

We would be glad to receive your questions and feedback at kie-lnv@minbuza.nl