According to the practice, mustard seed production in Ukraine is more chaos than the directed one. But white mustard seed is highly demanded on the global market, European one in particular, and Ukraine being the leader on the oil seed exports is considered as the stable supplier of high-quality seed.
More detailed information on the Ukrainian market of mustard seed and the quality demands is provided by the Commercial Director
- Taras, please tell about the particulars of the mustard seed production in the conditions of our climate. How do the weather conditions impact the yield and quality of the crop?
The weather conditions have the negative impact on the yield and harvested seed quality. Meanwhile the south mustard provide with the low crop due to the moisture lack. Besides, the excessive rains also harm the plants during the development and harvesting campaign. So there is the high risk of disease appear. The seed loose color, shine and shape.
So the mustard seed producers to date try to follow all the rules for its production. Especially if they wish to get the good quality of seed.
How do you estimate the condition of the mustard seed production in Ukraine? Did the sowings structure change in the recent few years?
Though Ukraine is one of TOP-10 global producers of mustard seed, but we are far behind the largest producer – Canada. There is no positive dynamics in harvesting area or yield. Thus in 2007 mustard seed harvested area totaled 29 thsd ha, in 2009 – 174 thsd ha, and in 2013 – 65 thsd ha. The average yield used to total 0.3 – 0.93 t/ha and it was formed owing more productive yellow mustard. White mustard seed yield is traditionally lower. In 2013 it totaled 0.4 t/ha.
In the sowing structure the leader is brown mustard, then there is the white one and some agricultural enterprises produce the black one. The number of the enterprises producing the white and black one face the annual increase, they widen the planted area and get the excellent financial result.
- What are the demands for acceptance of mustard seed and further its storing on the elevators? Are they different for white and the yellow one?
This year the elevators, in the South especially, unlike of the previous years were more willing to accept for storing the mustard seed of any type, even provided the possibility of the separate storing. The situation was caused by the lack of grains for storing. There were no any limitations for acceptance party so the market participants used to import parties of nearly 40 tonnes. The demands for quality were optimal – moisture content – up to 12%, impurity content – up to 2%, and oil impurity – nearly 5%.
- Considering the fact your company exports mustard seed, please tell the main demands for seed quality supplied on the global market. Is there the certain standard or the demands vary upon the buyers query?
Mustard seed quality without any dependence on its type or buyer should correspond to the following: moisture content – max. 3%, impurity – max. 1%, oil impurity – max. 3%, mineral impurity is not allowed, there should not be any other types of oil seeds; they should be in the corresponding form, smell well and typical for mustard seed, the surface is to be clear, smooth. They should correspond to the microbiological parameters, the seeds are to be sage on the pesticides content, toxins, heavy metals and radionuclides. They should be free from genetically modified organisms.
Deviation from these standard requirements is not allowed, or due to non-compliance to physical and organoleptic characteristics substantially the price to be significantly reduced if the buyer is a wholesale broker, and is able to bring the product to the base of quality.
There are the enterprises specializing on the seed production free from gluten. They do not allow seeds to be mixed with wheat, rye or barley.
On our experience the Ukrainian mustard seed corresponds to the high quality demands of the European consumers.
Interviewed by Svetlana Gnoevets
