The total volume of agricultural production decreased by 503.3 thousand tons, which is a 40% decline compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Economy.
The decline in yield has affected almost all important crops: wheat production decreased by 35%, potatoes by 23%, vegetables by 22%, fodder crops by 46%, and oilseeds by 49%. According to preliminary estimates, domestic production volumes will be able to meet 62.5% of the country's wheat needs, 76.9% of potato needs, and 72.6% of vegetable needs.
The main reason for the sharp decline in harvests was adverse weather conditions. From May to July, agricultural regions faced a lack of precipitation; air temperatures reached 37–39.5 °C, while soil temperatures rose to 65–69.6 °C. For 7–10 days, soil temperatures exceeded 40 °C, creating stressful conditions for most crops, reducing moisture levels and hindering plant growth. Additional problems arose due to local rains and hail that occurred in mid-summer.
However, in August and October, weather conditions improved, allowing the harvest to begin 7–10 days earlier than usual. Earlier and more uniform ripening contributed to improved product quality: wheat ripened evenly and had a high gluten content, positively affecting its quality characteristics.
The contribution of agriculture to the formation of gross domestic product was 0.20 percentage points. The share of the agricultural sector in the GDP structure was 9.5%.
