OREANDA-NEWS. HarvEast agricultural holding has started harvesting winter cereals in the east of Ukraine (Donetsk and Zaporozhye Oblasts) where it sowed 50,100 ha in autumn 2012.

The Crimea-based assets of the holding were the first to start harvesting 7,600 ha of winter wheat and 3,900 ha of winter barley.

In autumn 2012, HarvEast sowed 63,900 ha altogether, including 59,100 ha of winter wheat and 4,000 ha of winter barley.

For the harvest campaign 2013 the company bought 20 Bourgault and Brochard grain carts, which will improve the efficiency of harvesters and reduce soil sealing during grain transportation.

HarvEast spent over UAH 400 million to buy new agricultural vehicles, which will help to carry out the harvesting campaign in the shortest time possible.

HarvEast Holding is an agricultural group of companies, which owns and manages assets in Donetsk, Zaporozhye, Cherkassy, Zhytomir Oblasts and the Crimea. The Holding's major areas of focus include: crop raising (wheat, sunflower, barley, permanent grasses and corn) and dairy farming.

HarvEast Holding was established on 10 March 2011 and evolved from the assets previously owned by Ilyich Steel Plant (Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine). The overall bank of farmland is around 220,000 hectares and total livestock exceeds 22,000 heads.

The shareholders of HarvEast Holding are the SCM Group and Smart Holding.