The Ukrainian Agri Council, together with other agrarian associations as part of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Forum opposed the possible reform of the central executive bodies (CEOs). The state leadership’s plan to unite the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, Ministry of Strategic Industries in order to create a single central body of executive power - the Ministry of Economic Development of Ukraine - cause great concern.

On November 10, the members of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Agrarian Forum addressed a corresponding letter to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi and the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.

"The importance of Ukraine's agri-food sector has increased significantly since the beginning of the full-scale Russia’s invasion. After the full stop of exports and termination of logistics chains, a significant increase in food prices occurred and caused a wave of "hunger protests" in a number of countries. 

The role of Ukraine as an agrarian state was also highlighted by leading world leaders and organizations that contributed to the signing and implementation of the grain agreement, which unblocked the export of Ukrainian food amid war," the letter says.

Agrarians believe that it is logical and extremely important for business and the public community to have a specialized body of state power at the national level, which will be responsible for the formation of agrarian policy, determining 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 liquidation of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine will lead to negative consequences both in the agro-food sector and the economy of the state as a whole. It will cause concern of foreign partners and endanger the establishment of export supplies of Ukrainian food to countries that need it.

In addition, the reform of the Ministry of Agricultural Policy, carried out in 2019, when the Ministry of Agrarian Policy was attached to the Ministry of Economy, proved the inexpediency of liquidating the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, which has been already restored for 1.5 years, albeit with limited functionality.

"We understand that the authorities and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy in particular need a significant structural transformation and reviewing of functional duties. At the same time, we recognize the need for the existence of one 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 war and post-war times", - emphasize the members of the forum.