KYIV, April 1 - The hryvnia exchange rate, after weakening at the end of March, will strengthen in the second quarter due to increased sales of foreign currency by farmers before the start of field work, according to a poll of financial analysts at commercial banks.

"In the near future, the hryvnia will receive support from the sale of foreign currency by farmers for the spring field work, which is likely to lead to a slight strengthening of the national currency," head of the analytical department of Alfa-Bank Oleksiy Blinov said.