Ukraine will be able to maintain last year’s agricultural exports of more than $20 billion

UkrAgroConsult

This year, Ukraine will be able to sow almost as much land as last year. This will allow us to grow at least twice as much as Ukrainians consume. It will also keep the export potential of the agricultural sector at the level of the previous year – more than $20 billion.

This was stated by Taras Vysotskyi, First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, during the United News telethon.

“The last year’s forecast did not take into account some of the de-occupied Mykolaiv, Kharkiv and Kherson regions. The government is doing its best to ensure that a significant part of these regions, which still need to be inspected and demined, is also sown. Therefore, we may even end up covering a slightly larger area than last year,” said Taras Vysotskyi.

He added that the demining process is quite complex and time-consuming, so there is a risk that about half a million hectares, or 2% of the total national agricultural area, may not be sown.

Also, according to the First Deputy Minister, this year’s sowing campaign will be more focused on oilseeds, which will lead to a partial decrease in gross grain production in Ukraine. “This will not have a significant impact on the domestic market, as we will grow at least twice as much as we consume. However, it will affect international markets, as it may result in a trend of rather expensive raw materials and high global grain prices,” explained Taras Vysotskyi.

According to him, the focus of support is primarily on farmers in the frontline and de-occupied regions, as they are the ones who need it most.

“The Verkhovna Rada is finalizing amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine that should allow farmers to be exempt from paying many taxes related to land cultivation in the de-occupied territories and in the areas where military operations were conducted. I hope that the next convocation of the Parliament will consider them.

The second area is material assistance. Thanks to the support of our international partners, we are now distributing seeds and mineral fertilizers free of charge, primarily to the frontline regions, so that farmers can plant as much as possible,” summarized Taras Vysotskyi.

Tags: Ukraine, export, grain, sowing