Ukraine's agricultural minister admitted that grain exports have plummeted by 70 percent.
Ukraine is begging for free plastic bags to store grain that cannot be exported due to the blockade of Ukraine's southern ports.
The Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Taras Vysotsky, announced this on the air of the Obshchestvennoye channel, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
He says that due to the low rate of grain exports, additional storage space will be needed as early as November, and notes that the most proven method is polyethylene sleeves, which allow the harvest to be stored directly in the field.
“We have reached out to international partners to help, primarily with the ability to provide these hoses free of charge to frontline areas and small farms, because these two groups are the most vulnerable.
“Today, we already have confirmation from various organizations of their willingness to provide $11 million for these purposes,” Vysotsky said.
Negotiations are already underway with Western neighbors regarding the possibility of overland exports, but the minister admits that these volumes will not exceed previous figures.
"The goal is to develop and at least reach 50% of our export potential. Achieving more will be physically challenging, but it would be a good goal. Currently, it's 30%," the minister stated.
Ukrainian Agrarian Minister Admits Grain Exports Have Plummeted by 70 Percent