«Genetic Infarction”» in Garlic Globally Gives Ukraine a Unique Opportunity
In Ukraine, more than 10 hectares are planted under the «clean» «Liubasha» garlic variety, which is currently being cultivated in the Khmelnytskyi region by breeder and copyright holder of the garlic variety Ivan Zakharenko.
«If it weren’t for the war, Ukraine would already have 200–300 tons of high-quality seed annually. The cultivation technology for the «Liubasha» garlic variety has been developed since 2012. But now we are not at home and we are not doing what we should be doing, but what we are able to do. But we are trying,» he said in an interview with Agronom magazine.
Ivan Zakharenko emphasizes the importance of developing partnership relations.
«This is a model where we do not just lease land, but support the producer. For example, the farm where we lease land had 3 hectares of garlic last year, and this year it has expanded the area to 11 hectares,» he adds.
Overall in Ukraine, Ivan Zakharenko currently provides full agronomic support on a total area of about 35 hectares.
«The geography of production of high-quality seed garlic covers almost all regions: from western regions to the south and north. Even in the east, where the security situation allows, people believe in this crop. We understand that now there is war, that any work requires extra effort. But right now we must put in maximum energy to obtain Class ‘A’ product,» the breeder believes.
