Prospects for Sea Buckthorn Cultivation for Ukrainian Farmers

A farm in Lviv region demonstrates that cultivating sea buckthorn is a profitable venture. Despite sea buckthorn remaining a niche crop in Ukraine, there is a stable demand for this berry in the domestic market, and experts note its high export potential. Sea buckthorn is used not only in the food industry but also in pharmacology and cosmetology.

This is reported by AgroReview

Caring for this crop is considered relatively simple. Roman Tanchuk, the director of the “Romalin” farm, shares that over more than ten years of cultivating sea buckthorn, they have not only gathered a collection of varieties but also identified their “favorites.”

“In our time, we tested many varieties of sea buckthorn, and some of them were very appealing. We achieved good results in our conditions by growing varieties of Latvian selection: Maria Bruvele, Eva, and Tatyana,” noted Roman Tanchuk.

Currently, the “Romalin” farm cultivates eleven varieties of sea buckthorn on 30 hectares. Some of these have already begun to be propagated independently, with plans for the official registration of several varieties that originate from wild species. Among the varieties unsuitable for further cultivation, Tanchuk mentions the Romanian Clara, Mara, and Askola, explaining that the berries of these varieties are small, and the bushes are too thorny, making harvesting difficult.

Care and Harvesting Technologies

Caring for sea buckthorn requires regular disease and pest prevention. The farm strives to be proactive, which allows for a reduction in the use of chemical treatments. Tanchuk notes that the optimal treatments and their application are selected by an agronomist who develops a technological map.

Harvesting is a critical stage during which additional workers are engaged to cut the berries with electric pruners and pack them into boxes. The berries are frozen using a shock method at a temperature of minus 35 degrees, and then stored in a refrigerator until processing begins.

Export and Production Prospects

Currently, the sea buckthorn harvest from the “Romalin” farm is sold on the domestic market, but they plan to develop the export direction in the future. Negotiations are already underway with representatives from the processing industry in Germany and Poland, who show interest in Ukrainian berry products. Large batches of sea buckthorn are necessary for concluding export agreements, and the farm plans to work on this.

Entrepreneurs are now exploring the possibilities of secondary processing of sea buckthorn, considering the production of juices, jams, and other products as a future prospect. Roman Tanchuk emphasizes that sea buckthorn can yield crops for 20 years or more, but proper planning of plantings is essential for stable yields.

The farm also plans to conduct laboratory research on sea buckthorn varieties to offer processors the best options for the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Sea buckthorn truly has prospects, as assured by the “Romalin” farm.