Traditional Crops Are Shifting Northward: How Climate Change Is Affecting Agriculture
Ukraine is among the regions warming faster than the global average and outpacing worldwide temperature growth rates. According to scientific research, the global average temperature has already increased by more than 1°C, while in Ukraine the average temperature has risen locally by more than 3°C.
This was stated by Sofiia Sadohurska, an expert at the Climate Department of the NGO Ecoaction, as reported by RBC-Ukraine.
«Ukraine, together with the rest of Europe, is located in a region that is warming more rapidly. This means that some areas are expected to face water scarcity and potential droughts, while others may experience more frequent flooding and high-water events. Water shortages may intensify, particularly in the southern and eastern regions of the country. In addition, soil erosion and other negative impacts on agriculture may become more severe,» Sofiia Sadohurska explained.
According to her, the impact of climate change on Ukraine’s agricultural sector will continue to intensify. The main trends include rising average temperatures, more frequent and intense heatwaves, longer drought periods, changes in precipitation patterns, and a shorter period of stable snow cover.
The expert notes that these changes are already most noticeable in the southern regions of Ukraine. In particular, in the steppe zone (in Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions), farmers are increasingly facing moisture deficits and droughts. This reduces the yields of traditional crops and increases the risk of soil degradation and erosion."
"In the central regions of the country, the number of hot days and periods without precipitation is also increasing, and rains are increasingly heavy. That is, instead of uniform soil moisture, a large amount of precipitation falls in a short time, which can lead to localized flooding, washing away of the fertile soil layer and crop losses. In the future, climate change may change the suitability of different regions for growing certain crops. Some crops may gradually shift to the north," says Sophia Sadogurska.
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