The biggest agricultural organizations, which are parts of Ukrainian National Agrarian Forum (Agricultural Union of Ukraine, Ukrainian Agri Council, Ukrainian National Communities Association, Poultry Breeding Association, Ukrainian Agricultural Confederation and Ukrainian Agribusiness Club Association) apply to the President Volodymyr Zelenskiy with an appeal to stop monopolization of fertilizers market.
The agricultural organizations mention that introducing of quotas for nitrogen fertilizers import, that Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine wants to do according to the results of the Interdepartmental Commission’s on International Trade Translation (ICITT) investigation will make fertilizers too expensive.
“This process will make stronger crisis situation in the agriculture. A lot of agrarians will fail and agricultural lands will be cheaper.”
The statement mentions that after introducing of quotas for nitrogen fertilizers import, prices will be fixed by a company which have internal quota. As we know, this is the company group “OstChem” (the Chairman is Dmytro Firtash). That is why introducing of quotas will make internal monopolist stronger and give an opportunity to fix prices for the fertilizers again.
“It’s important to mention, that last year Antimonopoly committee adjudged that the company group “OstChem” was a monopolist at the nitrogen fertilizers market and it misused their monopoly position (according to the investigation). In September 2020 Antimonopoly committee adjudicated: 1. the company should be divided in the department of nitrogen fertilizers producers; 2. to amerce trading company “NF Trading Ukraine” (the fine amount was 107 million hryvnas).” – members of UNAF tell.
So, associations apply to the President with an appeal to protect national country interests and stop actions that can harm agrarians’ business. Because of such statements, agrarians need to pay more, agricultural producing will be lower, also, oligarchs will consolidate influence on Ukrainian economy and policy.
