Agriculture Ministry forecasts grain harvest of 45 mln mt in 2009

Ukraine’s Minister of Agricultural Policy Yuriy Melnik said yesterday that his ministry upgraded its forecast for the domestic grain harvest from 42-43 mln mt to 45 mln mt in 2009. Melnik also said grain exports are now anticipated to exceed initial forecasts – 18 mln mt this year vs. 17 mln mt previously. The ministry maintained its forecast of a harvest of 6 mln mt of sunflowers.