Fuel that grows in the field
To some people the rape plant has an unusual name. Even so, this crop is attracting increasing attention. What is rape? Even people with little connection to agriculture often see this crop in the fields, particularly its bright yellow color.
Rape not only gladdens the eye; it is also an inexhaustible source of useful agents that are absolutely indispensable to people. On the one hand, it is a popular source of vegetable oil used in many branches of industry; on the other, it is good fodder. Rapeseed oil contains 40-47 percent of fat, 20 percent protein, and 5 percent cellulose. It is also very beneficial to people who live a healthy lifestyle. This plant is also a wonderful herald of winter crops.
Ukraine’s market demand for rape is between 500,000 and 800,000 tons a year, but actual yields amount to some 150,000 tons. Winter rape is mostly grown in Kherson oblast, where winter crops have twice the yields of spring crops. In the last few years winter rape plantings have considerably expanded. The agriculture and food department of the Kherson Oblast State Administration reports that these crops occupy 9,000 hectares, the largest planting in all the years of its cultivation. Rape can be planted all over the region, although it is most popular in Hola Prystan raion, where it occupies over one-third of all arable soil. Large plots of winter rape are sown in Skadovske and Kakhivka raions. Meanwhile, this precious crop is practically ignored in Velyka Oleksandrivka, Vysokopillia, Verkhnii Rohachyk, and Ivanivka raions of Kherson oblast.
The expansion of areas devoted to rape is facilitated by hybrids recently developed by German breeders. These seeds can be sown 15- 20 days later than the Ukrainian varieties. It is thus possible to use damp soils in September and the first 10 days of October. A farmer who plants rape once will plant it every year. There are several advantages to growing winter rape. First, it means selling rape and receiving money in July, when it is especially needed for harvesting early grain yields and preparing for winter crop sowing.
Scientists say that the world’s oil deposits will last only another 50-80 years. Even a country, like Iran, with its large deposits of black gold, is growing rape to produce biofuel. Biofuel is methyl ether (90% rapeseed oil plus 10% methyl alcohol). In order to ease the ecological burden, 5-35 percent of biofuel is added to petroleum-based diesel oil. Biodiesel can be obtained at production plants (up to 200 tons of biodiesel a month, working only one shift). This is not being done yet in Ukraine. In 2005, 201,400 hectares were devoted to rape crops.
There’s no denying the fact that these little yellow flowers generate solid profits. In recent years the price of commercial winter rape has sharply increased, and this crop has become competitive and profitable. Statistics compiled by the agriculture and food department of the Kherson Oblast State Administration indicate that last year the cost price of one centner [=100 kg — Ed.] of winter rape was 54-60 hryvnias, 30 percent less than for sunflower. Good rape yields bring 30-40 hryvnias’ worth of profit from every hectare of rape compared to sunflower.
What are the prospects for growing winter rape? They are obvious. In countries, like Germany, every farmer receives 300 euros from the government for every hectare of rape sown. Every year two million tons of biodiesel are produced from rapeseed in that country. In Poland, farmers who grow rape receive social subsidies. A Polish farmer is not too worried about whether he will sell his rape because the government subsidies are large. In Ukraine, it is 60 hryvnias.
In world agricultural production, rape is in second or third place after cotton and soybeans. One hectare of winter rape yields 1,100 kg of oil. By way of comparison, one hectare of soybeans produces 310 kg, and one hectare of sunflowers, 600 kg. A scientific method is also used to fasten the upper section of rape with elastic. This prevents the husks from cracking and increases crop yields by 25-30 percent.
Kherson oblast plans to sow 136,000 hectares of winter rape in 2010 and produce at least 340,000 tons of rapeseed. In 2006, 30,000 hectares of rape were sown, but the bad weather in the fall (lack of humidity and low winter temperatures) prevented sprouting in the entire sown area. Agricultural producers, however, are glad that 10,000 hectares survived these harsh conditions, allowing them to harvest 13.3 centners per hectare. The regional administration plans to sow some 80,000 hectares with winter rape for next year’s crops.
