Yurii Pashchenko, the Company MAIS R&D Director, is convinced that the next season competition on the seed market will increase, because domestic companies offer high-quality and accessible goods and will be able to strengthen their positions and increase their market share.
Mr. Paschenko, how many polygons (plots) has the company in Ukraine, and where exactly are they situated? What hybrids are planted there?
This year we have planted over than 50 demonstration plots in Ukraine. Basically these were the regions where the plantings of corn dominate, namely the regions of Cherkasy, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Vinnytsia. These are the regions with a great demand on seeds. We also paid attention to the other regions – we offer our hybrids to the dry regions of South, and to well-moistened regions of North, the same as to the East and West of our country. We have hybrids with FAO from 140 to 500 and in dependence from the agrarians demand and the farms agro-climatic location we select the best hybrids. We included 16 new hybrids to the list of planted hybrids on the demonstration plots. These hybrids are characterized by high yields and a low level of moisture on harvesting These are the adaptive hybrids with the high resistance to drought and heat and have high content of carotenoids in grain. The hybrids can be used as for grain and as for silage.
Have the hybrids demonstrated the expected results? Have you obtained any results that surprised you?
The unexpected testing results of corn hybrids, to my mind, can occur in fly-by-night companies, whose one or another hybrid can suddenly top the table. The serious breeding company can always predict the results because it is supported by preceded by its breeders competitive selection and analytical work. Certainly, every hybrid may occur in severe weather conditions, especially in a critical situation of a low moisture consumption that causes yield losses on harvesting. To avoid such situations Company MAIS recommends to focus on the adaptive hybrids selection and to plant 3-4 hybrids of various maturity groups. This year on the plots of German agricultural demonstration and training center in Kyiv region (ADFZ) our 12 new hybrids (as of 15 September) showed high productivity, its yield of dry grain was 103-104 kg/ha, and yield of three of them was 127-140 kg/ha, whereas moisture at harvesting was 15-18%.
Tell us about one hybrid that you consider to be promising, so that it will be demanded on the Ukrainian market in future. Please, describe its main characteristics. For which areas and which farm categories it can be recommended and why?
It would be unfair to emphasize only one hybrid. Because each hybrid has very valuable economic characteristics, and depending on the soil and climatic conditions can behave differently. Among the multipurpose hybrids, suitable for growing in all areas we can mark the hybrid DMS Super. This is a mid-early hybrid (FAO 220) with a well-developed leaf and stem mass, fairly tall, can be used for cultivation on for grain and silage. Its maturity type is a “stay-green”, and at the same time it intensively reduces the level of grain humidity on ripening. Moreover, for years it provides a consistently high yield. This year in the areas of Forest it formed yield of 127.3 kg/ha, and in the zones of Steppe – 90.7 kg/ha.
Many companies have their production facilities in Ukraine: how do you estimate the ratio between the seed produced on the local market and the one that was imported to Ukraine? What is your vision and evaluation of the seed market for 2017?
The competition on the seed market in 2017 will be amplified. And that’s good, because the consumer will be able to choose more qualitative products at optimum price-quality ratio. Only those who own original, qualitative and affordable products will survive. We consider it to be positive, though it demands great efforts. As for the ratio between imported and domestic seed, I think that the share of a local product will increase, the influence of the domestic producers will grow stronger, because of the price being more attractive and in addition, the potential of local material becomes higher.
It is known that the Ukrainian State Seed Inspection terminates on October 1. In this regard, do you consider it to be more difficult to certify seeds this year? How are you going to certify seeds after October 1? What is your vision of the seeds market control?
That’s an open question. On the one hand we are ready to be fully responsible for our material quality in all instances. On the other hand the Ukrainian government wants to exclusively control this field, but at the same time it shuts the seed inspection down. I would like to hear their position.
Does the company plan to export seeds? If it is so, the markets of which countries are you focusing on? Rate please the export prospects of Ukrainian seeds in general. What prevents domestic companies to sell seeds for example to the markets of Europe?
Company MAIS has already registered 6 hybrids in the European Union. In addition, more than 20 hybrids are registered in the Republic of Belarus. We have the long-standing commercial ties with Belarusian companies– we are one of the largest suppliers of F1 corn hybrids seeds.
Company MAIS is a Ukrainian company, that is about for a quarter of a century on the seed market. It has a good reputation earned by a fair position in the relationship with partners. We improve our work not only in the breeding aspect by cooperating with famous scientific centers of Europe and America, but also by increasing production capacities, improving those plants that we have and creating new, modern enterprises. It is the high productivity of corn hybrids and high-quality of seeds that enables us to work successfully with regular and new clients, among whom there are large agricultural holdings, medium and small enterprises.
It is necessary to speak on the prospects of seed export from the position of Ukrainian breeding and seed companies and not to identify and unite them under a common Ukrainian brand. Each company is responsible for the genetic purity of its hybrids and its seed quality. And the prospects are great, they just need to be wisely used and operated.