Challenges and Prospects of Growing Niche Crops in Ukraine: Cotton, Lentils, Sorghum
The last two decades have been a period of significant changes in the structure of crop production in Ukraine. According to Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor of the Institute of Grain Crops of NAAS, Vladislav Cherchel, these changes have been influenced not only by climate warming but also by economic factors and market demand. This was discussed during the round table “The Most Profitable Crops in 2026: What Farmers Should Grow.”
This is reported by AgroReview
Changes in the Cultivation of Traditional and Niche Crops
The scientist noted that while in the 1980s sunflowers were primarily grown in the south and partially in the central regions of Ukraine, today this crop has spread throughout the entire country. According to the expert, this has both positive and negative consequences, particularly exacerbating drought conditions and affecting the water balance of soils. The recovery of water resources after sunflower cultivation takes several years, which is especially important for the southern regions.
“And this is our misfortune, by the way. This leads, among other things, to the intensification of drought phenomena. Because the restoration of the soil’s water balance occurs only in the 4th to 5th year after sunflowers. This is particularly important for the south,” he noted.
Cherchel emphasized that a key issue for farmers when choosing a crop is the possibility of marketing the harvest. This is why niche crops are usually grown under specific contracts or orders. At the same time, the availability of infrastructure for processing, logistics, processing capacities, and access to seed material remains important.
Problems and Potential of Niche Crops
The expert analyzed the situation with some niche crops. In particular, he cited the example of lentils, which were even sown this year in the Kyiv region. However, the lack of registered varieties and seeds, as well as protection means and effective nutrition systems, significantly complicates its cultivation.
Regarding cotton, Cherchel reminded that in the 1980s this crop was grown in the south, particularly in the Kherson region. Today, cotton remains a complex crop to produce, requiring significant resources, and the infrastructure for its cultivation and processing is virtually non-existent.
The situation with sorghum is even more complicated. Despite once being considered a promising substitute for wheat, this crop has not gained widespread distribution in Ukraine. Although a processing plant for sorghum with a capacity of 10,000 tons per year was built, it has never been utilized. Breeding work with this crop is still insufficient for mass implementation.
At the same time, among niche crops, the scientist believes there are those that can become effective precursors for other agricultural crops. He highlighted peas and oilseed flax as examples of such crops that should be developed and promoted due to their potential profitability and agronomic value.