Garlic cultivation in Ukraine remains stagnant, despite potential profitability. Production continues to decline as imported garlic increasingly appears in supermarkets.
Timur Levda, a grower from Mykolaiv Oblast and owner of "LEVDA", reports that drought conditions adversely affected this year's yield, with 6 hectares of garlic lost on his farm. Only a limited amount was harvested for sowing single-toothed garlic. Levda explains, "Garlic is not easy to grow. I have organic farming without the use of chemicals; most of the work is done manually, and only the row spacing and pre-sowing soil cultivation are done by machinery. Unfortunately, without high-quality irrigation, I see no point in doing this, so by the end of this year, I plan to solve the issue of irrigation."
Levda asserts that, under the dry conditions typical of the Mykolaiv region, garlic cultivation is feasible only with adequate irrigation.
The farm cultivates the Ukrainian Kharkiv Violet variety. BTU preparations, including Liposam, are utilized for plant protection, while Greenodin Gray fertilizers assist in moisture retention. The harvest employs a mixed method whereby soil is initially broken up by a tractor, followed by manual labor.
Levda aims to increase cultivated areas and maintain organic practices, primarily addressing the challenge of insufficient moisture. A plan for irrigation and further stability has been outlined for future development.
Source: Kyiv 1
