Ukraine is set to bolster its vegetable storage facilities to remain competitive in the global market.

The eastern European nation's agricultural minister, Mykola Prysiazhniuk, told local press that he wants to increase vegetable storage facilities by 400,000 tonnes to 1.42 million.

This is to ensure crop storage and stable prices for vegetables in the winter and spring period, reported the National Radio Company of Ukraine.

Prysiazhniuk, said: 'This year Ukraine has harvested a high yield of vegetables, 9.3 million tonnes, and potatoes, 22 million tonnes.' He added: 'Private farms remain the main producers of these goods.'

The expansion of vegetable storage facilities is set to take place in the next two to three years.

According to the minister, the current capacity of fruit and vegetable storage facilities in Ukraine is 2.7 million tonnes: 1.3 million tonnes for potatoes, 1.02 million tonnes for vegetables, and 366,000 tonnes for fruit.

Earlier this year, it was announced that 16 fridges to store an extra 140,000 tonnes of fruit and berries would be commissioned by 2015.

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