Ukraine wants to modernize agriculture for the EU
Ukraine wants to fundamentally modernize its agriculture with a view to possible EU membership. "We want to use the post-war reconstruction to make our agriculture more sustainable," said Mykola Melnyk from the Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture during a panel discussion at the Agritechnica agricultural technology trade fair in Hanover. The prospect of EU membership is now increasing the pressure on Kiev even more. In the agricultural sector alone, 12,000 EU legal acts would have to be transposed into national law. "It is clear to us that we have a lot to do."
Germany promised to help the country. "You can be sure that we will support you in this endeavor," said State Secretary for Agriculture Claudia Müller (Greens). "We are at your side." Germany could contribute its European experience here. In addition, the aim is to develop alternative export routes for Ukrainian agricultural products and help with mine clearance in the fields.
"We had ambitious plans for grain production," said Melnyk. The major exporter's wheat harvest was to be increased from 86 million tons in 2021 to 100 million tons. However, following Russia's attack in February 2022, the area under cultivation was reduced by a quarter. Grain production has fallen by more than a third as a result. The blockade of the Black Sea port of Odessa is also hampering exports. As a result, agricultural exports have fallen by a good quarter since 2021 to an estimated 50 million tons this year. Melnyk: "Russian aggression has put a stop to growth."
Ukraine is considered one of the most important grain suppliers in the world. Before the Russian invasion, the country had "secured the supply of 600 million people around the world", said the representative from the Kiev Ministry of Agriculture. The country is also one of the most important producers of maize and sunflower oil.
"The biggest problem at the moment is not production, but exports," said Melnyk. Instead of using the Black Sea port of Odessa, which is blocked by Russia, the products are increasingly being exported on barges via the Danube. The necessary facilities are now being expanded there.
Due to the difficulties in exporting, farmers have now started to produce more soy and sunflower oil instead of wheat, which is mainly destined for abroad, said Melnyk. In addition, the collapse in foreign business has led to a drop in prices in the country itself, as farmers are now increasingly selling their products domestically.
"The agricultural sector has been suffering losses for two years," said Oleksandra Avramenko from the Ukrainian agricultural association UCAB. This makes it difficult for farms to raise the money for the necessary transformation. She is therefore hoping for support and funding from Brussels.
After Ukraine was declared a candidate country for EU accession in 2022, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recommended last week that negotiations should begin. She believes the country is well on the way to fulfilling the relevant requirements.
Ukraine aims to showcase its modernized agriculture at various agricultural fairs, highlighting its progress towards EU membership requirements. At the Agritechnica fair in Hanover, Mykola Melnyk discussed the need to make Ukrainian agriculture more sustainable.
As part of modernizing agriculture, Ukraine seeks to develop alternative export routes for its agricultural products, especially with the ongoing blockade of the Black Sea port of Odessa.
Source: www.dpa.com
