OREANDA-NEWS. March 24, 2011. The production subsidiaries of ASTARTA are fully prepared for the sowing campaign, which will begin in the last decade of March - in early April.

In particular, the required amount of the seeds of the major crops and fertilizers is purchased and delivered to farms, as well as the necessary reserves of fuel are created. The park of the agricultural machinery was renewed significantly: for the new production season there were bought 86 tractors and 23 combines, and also the 338 units of the agricultural aggregates.

For the sowing campaign are prepared more than 160, 000 hectares (+26 % y-o-y), including about 45, 000 hectares for sugar beet. In addition, the contracts on delivery of sugar beet from the area of about 14, 000 hectares are being concluded.

The agronomists of the Group also mark that all winter crops on the area of about 45, 000 hectares are in good condition. Thus, the total area of operated arable agricultural land is currently over 205, 000 hectares.

Comment of Viktor Ivanchyk, CEO of ASTARTA Holding N.V.: "Our production subsidiaries have done a lot of work to properly prepare for the beginning of the sowing campaign to provide a significant increase in the production volumes for the current year. We plan to accomplish this not only by increasing the area of the cultivated agricultural land, but also due to the higher targeted yield of major crops following application of modern agricultural technologies, use of quality seeds and necessary amount of fertilizers. An important factor is our regular work to train professionals at all levels, which allows us to secure return on our investments in the fixed assets".