Farmers are cutting back on buckwheat crops: will there be a shortage of buckwheat?

25 March 12:36

PROGNOSIS

Despite the reduction in buckwheat acreage in Ukraine, no shortage of this grain is expected on the domestic market. Current stockpiles and lower consumption are sufficient to fully meet the needs of Ukrainians.

Svitlana Lytvyn, head of the analytical department at the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UAC), shared this in an exclusive comment to "Komersant Ukrainian", discussing the situation regarding buckwheat production and consumption in Ukraine.

Will there be enough buckwheat for Ukrainians?

According to the expert, in 2024, the area planted with buckwheat was about 90,000 hectares, while in 2025 it decreased to 60,000 hectares.

The harvest decreased accordingly—to approximately 70,800 tons, which is 38% less than the previous year.

However, this does not mean there will be a shortage on the market.

“Despite the significant reduction in production, this does not indicate a shortage. Before the full-scale war, annual buckwheat consumption was about 120,000 tons. Currently, due to the decline in population, domestic demand is estimated at approximately 90,000 tons,” explained Svitlana Lytvyn.

What factors help avoid a shortage

The expert notes that carryover stocks from previous years, when production was significantly higher, play an important role.

“An additional factor is the availability of carryover stocks from previous years, when production was substantial. In 2022–2024, the average gross harvest was about 157,000 tons, and these stocks can cover part of the domestic market’s needs,” the analyst noted.

Thus, even with lower production volumes, the Ukrainian market will remain supplied.

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Does Ukraine import buckwheat?

According to Svitlana Lytvyn, Ukraine imported almost no buckwheat during the war.

“During the war, buckwheat was practically not imported into Ukraine. Only small shipments came from Kazakhstan. At the same time, there were no exports of this crop this year either,” she explained.

Why farmers are reducing buckwheat acreage

The expert explains that the reduction in planting areas is primarily due to economic reasons.

“Traditionally, the main reason for reducing buckwheat acreage is the low price of this crop and the opportunity to achieve higher profitability by growing other crops,” noted Svitlana Lytvyn.

She added that the Ukrainian agricultural market is characterized by so-called “price swings,” where the area under cultivation can change depending on profitability.

What is the forecast for 2026

According to preliminary estimates, the situation may change as early as this year.

“Such fluctuations are typical for the Ukrainian market. According to preliminary estimates, the area planted with buckwheat could increase by at least 10% this year,” concluded the UACB expert.

This could help stabilize the market and keep prices at an affordable level.