KYIV. Oct 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) - The Community of Pulse Producers and Customers of Ukraine forecasts a 30% increase in the areas sown with leguminous crops in 2018

"According to our data, in 2018 it is planned to increase the area by 30%," Antonina Skliarenko, the board chairman of the association, said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine.

According to her information, in 2017 the area under legumes in Ukraine amounted to 502,700 hectares, of which 410,600 hectares under peas and 42,800 hectares under beans.

Skliarenko specified the area under peas in the last three years grew by 2.4 times.

She noted in 2016 the harvest of legumes in Ukraine amounted to about 800,000 tonnes, in 2017 some 1.3 million tonnes.

According to the State Statistics Service, in 2016 leguminous crops entered the top five most profitable crops, providing agricultural producers with more than 76% of profitability.

"In general, the demand for legumes in the world market exceeds the supply. But the season's peculiarities must be taken into account. This year production of peas is declining in Canada and the United States, but growing in Ukraine and Russia. Thus, competition among suppliers is shifting towards the Black Sea region," director general of UkrAgroConsult consulting agency Serhiy Feofilov said.

According to him, in 2016/2017 MY India, which accounts for about 35% of exports of Ukrainian legumes, harvested a record own crop and accumulated substantial reserves of beans.