Posted by stephan on September 07, 2000 at 11:33:15:
Ukraine used to be called the bread basket of Europe. Even during Soviet times Ukraine used to harvest 50 million tons of grain. In 1999/2000 she had to import 400,000/500,000 of grain from Kazakstan, Hungary, Turkey and Eastern Europe. In 1999 Ukraine harvested a mere 24.4 million tons of grain, including 13.5 million tons of wheat. This year experts say Ukraine may have to buy atleast 600,000 tons of grain, mostly from Kazakstan and Turkey. Why, you may ask. President Leonid Kuchma said Ukraine was expecting a record low grain crop, 3 million tons lower than last year. Why? Wheat imports and reserve head Yevhen Chervonenko said that expected wheat imports may be cased by "absurd and unrealistically high local grain prices, as well as a low quality of grain". Can you imagine what Ukraine has come down to? Is Kuchma doing a good job? Hell no.