The leading public associations of the agricultural sector of Ukraine are extremely concerned about the announcement at the meeting with the president regarding the agreement of a new concept for the construction of the Cabinet of Ministers. In particular, the unification of the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food and the creation of a single central body of executive power - the Ministry of Economic Development of Ukraine.

"Last month, the idea of ​​reforming the Government and uniting individual ministries has been actively discussed. Paradoxically, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy is again thinking of merging with the Ministry of Economy. And although we have already had this experience "behind our shoulders", for now we continue to think to be or not to be a separate body of the executive power, which is responsible for the formation and implementation of the agrarian policy of Ukraine. Today, 27 leading agrarian associations appealed to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Prime Minister Denys Shmygal regarding the inexpediency of such a measure. We hope that the agrarian public will be heard, " commented the director of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Forum Maria Didukh.

In its appeal, the agrarian community emphasizes that "the liquidation of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine will lead to negative consequences both in the agri-food sector and the economy of the state as a whole, as well as cause concern of foreign partners and endanger the establishment of export supplies of Ukrainian food to countries, that need it."

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, the importance of the agricultural sector of Ukraine has increased significantly, because after the complete stop of exports and the disruption of logistics chains, there was a huge increase in food prices and caused a wave of "hunger protests" in a number of countries.

At the same time, the role of Ukraine as an agrarian state was noted by leading world leaders and organizations. They contributed to the signing and implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which unblocked the export of Ukrainian food in wartime conditions.

"Therefore, it is a logical and extremely important fact for business and the public community that there is a specialized body of state power at the central level, which will be responsible for the formation of agrarian policy, the determination of directions for the recovery of the agro-food sector, ensuring the volume of agricultural production in wartime and establishing supply chains of agricultural products to world markets",   - the associations explain.

In their opinion, world experience proves that most countries with a developed agricultural sector have a separate central body of executive power, which is solely responsible for the formation of agrarian policy, in particular, the USA, Canada, Turkey. EU member states, with the exception of Austria, have central authorities that are solely responsible for agriculture and food.

At the same time, agrarians understand the need to optimize the activities of government structures, because the economy of Ukraine is in an extremely difficult situation, and spending in 2023 on the country's defense capabilities is more than 44% of the budget. However, the reform of the central executive bodies carried out in 2019 (when the Ministry of Agrarian Policy was joined to the Ministry of Economy) proved the inexpediency of liquidating the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, which activity was restored in 1.5 years, albeit with limited functionality.

Agrarians recognize that Minagro needs restructuring and revision of functional duties, but at the same time, they emphasize the necessity and importance of a separate specialized body of state power at the national level, which will be responsible for guaranteeing food security and ensuring the effective functioning of the agricultural sector, especially in the war and post-war period time.