Here's Europe's breadwinner: Ukraine is preparing to fail the sowing campaign miserably
Kyiv, February 07 (PolitNavigator, Vladimir Mikhailov) – The Ukrainian agro-industrial complex is not ready for spring field work. Alex Lissitsa, president of the Ukrainian Agricultural Business Club association, stated this at a press conference in Kyiv.
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“The lack of seeds, fertilizers and means of production makes it impossible to carry out spring field work to the extent that it was planned. There is also a big problem with financing - banks actually refuse to finance the agricultural sector,” he said.
Due to military operations in eastern Ukraine, approximately 12% of the agricultural territory is in an uncertain state. There are also fields adjacent to the ATO zone. Not only crop areas are located there, but also elevators and other assets, some of which Ukraine does not control.
“In such difficult conditions, it is very difficult to attract investment,” says People’s Deputy of Ukraine, President of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation Leonid Kozachenko.
In addition, the problem was the rise in price of mineral fertilizers and the inability to provide them in full for the sowing season.
“Russia introduced a veto on mineral fertilizers. They could be bought in other countries, but the Ministry of Ecology does not issue a license for the import of fertilizers from other countries. The order on this must be signed by the deputy minister, but he has not yet been appointed. Because of this, a lot of fertilizer has accumulated at our border,” says Leonid Kozachenko.
Previously, Petro Poroshenko has repeatedly stated that Ukraine has been the breadwinner of Europe for a long time, and in the context of growing global demand for food, Kyiv expects to receive income from the export of agricultural products.
“Ukraine has always been the breadwinner of Europe. The rise in food prices confirms the demand that our agricultural sector has. Ukraine can improve its balance of payments and take first place in the export of agricultural products,” Poroshenko assured.
He recognized that the country's agricultural potential was hampered by the underdevelopment of agricultural land. In Europe, where modern technologies are used, the yield is 3 times higher. “If we sharply increased the country’s controllability, Ukraine would become the world’s breadwinner,” Poroshenko assured.
Here's Europe's nurse: Ukraine is preparing to fail miserably in its sowing campaign.