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LLC “SP “Nibulon” is shifting its focus in southern Ukraine primarily to cultivating winter rapeseed and durum wheat, driven by changing climatic conditions and declining profitability of certain crops, as stated by the company’s agricultural director, Oleh Veselov, in an interview with “Interfax-Ukraine”.
“While in the west and center of the country, experimentation with various crops is possible, in the south, we are significantly constrained by the climate. As an export-oriented enterprise, we will continue to prioritize grains and rapeseed. The sole adjustment we are making in the south currently is transitioning from soft wheat varieties to durum wheat,” he explained.
Veselov specified that a batch of durum wheat, approximately 10,000 tons, was already harvested this year, and for the upcoming year, only durum wheat varieties will be sown in the southern regions.
According to him, in Nibulon’s Mykolaiv cluster, the ratio of rapeseed to wheat sowings is roughly 1:1. This year, wheat yields averaged around 4 tons per hectare, and rapeseed yielded 2 tons per hectare, generating approximately $200 per hectare.
“Farmers in the south are experimenting extensively, seeking alternatives to sunflowers, as sunflowers have resulted in losses in previous seasons in southern Ukraine. Consequently, many are now planting flax, peas, chickpeas, lentils, and coriander. We are also considering these options. This year, we resumed the cultivation of sorghum, planting 700 hectares. We will observe the results,” he remarked.
Veselov highlighted that the primary challenges in operating in the south remain the necessity of land demining and the threat of drone attacks. Nibulon’s southern cluster encompasses 18,000 hectares, of which 7,500 hectares were subjected to combat operations. The company undertook demining efforts independently, and the current season marks the second harvest on these fields.
“Fortunately, there have been no recent losses. During this harvesting campaign, we encountered nearly a dozen ‘fresh’ drones in the fields. This necessitated extremely cautious harvesting operations – only during daylight, only when visible, and at minimal speeds,” Veselov reported.
He added that the enemy continues to launch drone attacks, particularly targeting fuel depots. Despite this, Nibulon successfully completed the harvest on the critical 7,500 hectares. “We were fortunate; nothing caught fire, although our neighbors experienced fires,” he described the situation.
Veselov further noted that approximately 100 hectares of the company’s southern land remain uncultivated due to extensive mine contamination. The demining of this particular field is prohibitively expensive, and a mechanism for its return to cultivation has not yet been identified.
Prior to the war, LLC “SP “Nibulon” cultivated 82,000 hectares across 12 regions of Ukraine and exported agricultural products to over 70 countries globally. In 2021, the grain trader exported a record 5.64 million tons of agricultural products in its history. Following the outbreak of war, the company was compelled to relocate its central office from Mykolaiv to Kyiv. Currently, “Nibulon” cultivates 52,000 hectares across four clusters. In addition to 23 elevator complexes, “Nibulon” possesses its own road transport and railway capacities, as well as a fleet constructed at its own shipbuilding yard. During wartime, this fleet continues to facilitate river transportation.
The company is also actively developing its own humanitarian demining unit to restore safety on leased lands and support Ukraine’s agricultural sector. It holds certified operator status for mine action.