Agrarian associations call on Zelensky not to liquidate the Ministry of Agrarian Policy
16 July 08:44
Agrarians have appealed to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding the inexpediency of liquidating the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food. The appeal, signed by the heads of 37 agrarian associations, was made public by the Association of Milk Producers, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
According to industry leaders, this decision could cause irreparable damage to the country’s economy and threaten food security in times of war.
“The plans of the President’s Office and the parliamentary majority to create the Ministry of Resources of Ukraine by merging the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, announced by the media, are of great concern,” the statement reads.
In their appeal, the farmers emphasize that even in the face of a full-scale invasion, the agricultural sector remains the backbone of Ukraine’s economy. It is the sector that:
- accounts for about 15% of the country’s GDP;
- provides more than 60% of foreign exchange earnings;
- it is a key source of budget revenues and funding for the defense sector.
That is why the initiators of the appeal are convinced that the elimination of the specialized ministry is a strategic mistake that could have long-term negative consequences.
“The abolition of a separate specialized ministry will be a strategic mistake,” the Association of Milk Producers said in a statement.
Agrarian associations believe that in times of war, Ukraine vital needs a strong and independent ministry that
- formulate a consistent state policy in the agricultural sector;
- represent the interests of the industry in the Government and international negotiations;
- ensure sustainability and food security in times of war.
In addition, the agrarians believe that today, more than ever, it is important for Ukraine to have a strong industry representative to negotiate European integration, open EU markets and protect the trade interests of Ukrainian farmers.
The appeal notes that all the world’s leading agricultural countries – the United States, Canada, Turkey, and the European Union – have separate ministries that deal exclusively with agricultural issues.
The experience of 2019, when the Ministry of Agrarian Policy was liquidated, showed the harmfulness of such a decision for the industry, the document says. The farmers thanked Zelenskyy for restoring the ministry in 2020.
The Ministry of Agrarian Policy was abolished in the fall of 2019, merging its functions with the Ministry of Economy at the suggestion of former Economy Minister Tymofiy Mylovanov. Formally, the functions of the country’s chief agrarian were assigned to Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture Taras Vysotsky.
