Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has said that annual grain harvest could be increased in Ukraine.

"It's important to increase the grain harvest in Ukraine. This is a task not only for 2013 but also for the future. Today Ukraine produces on average 45-50 million tonnes of grain, while we could produce much more. I think we can handle this task," he said while opening a meeting of the government on Wednesday.

The premier said the government would maintain the same direction in the sphere of agriculture next year. In particular, it will continue the development of the agricultural market, the improvement of production efficiency, the modernization of agriculture via the provision of state support for the purchase of agricultural hardware and equipment, and the development of social infrastructure in rural areas.