According to UkrAgroConsult data, in 2022 Ukrainian farmers harvested only 269 thousand tons of peas. This is half as much as the year before. Due to Russian occupation, the area under peas in Ukraine was reduced from the usual 250 thousand ha to 118 thousand ha. The pulses sector was also affected by related challenges faced by the Ukrainian farmer (difficulties in selling products abroad, a lack of money for sowing, a shortage and increasing prices of fuels, fertilizers and other inputs).
The harvest decrease led to a significant drop in pulses export by 40% in 2022
The only pulse crop with increased export compared to last year was kidney beans. The reason was the proximity of the main buyer (the EU absorbing 68% of Ukrainian exports). Before the full-scale Russian invasion, 40% of Ukrainian kidney beans were supplied there by trucks through the western border. So, the blockade of Ukraine’s deep-water seaports affected this crop export to the least extent compared to other pulses.
The logistical difficulties in Ukraine and strong competition from other grains made it impossible to export as much chickpeas and lentils to distant markets as went there before February 24, 2022. Moreover, the pulses trade development is complicated by the fact that traders cannot collect large volumes for shipments (low harvests).
Pulses production in Ukraine has the potential for growth
The current situation shows that it is much more profitable for farmers to sell more expensive commodities or value-added products. Therefore the production of pulses in Ukraine could still get a new boost. UkrAgroConsult experts predict Ukrainian farmers to plant a larger area of pulses in 2023. This primarily concerns peas as the least demanding pulse crop. Kidney bean plantings may expand amid increased demand, while chickpeas and lentils could at least return to their pre-war levels.