At the initiative of USAID AGRO, a discussion on investments in processing and adaptation of Ukrainian agricultural exports to new conditions was held within the framework of the marketing platform for producers and processors of grains, oilseeds and pulses. The experience of exports from the frontline areas, advanced agricultural production technologies was also discussed.  

Producers and processors in Ukraine, as well as current and potential partners abroad, discussed urgent issues to facilitate the export of more products from Ukraine, as well as the strategy of agricultural production, which will play a key role in the economic development and stabilization of Ukraine in the war and post-war periods.

"Ukraine has a great potential to implement new processing projects in the agricultural sector and this is a historic window of opportunity to radically change our place in the global economy. We need to process the raw materials that Ukrainian farmers grow. From a single crop, such as corn a minimum of 15-20 high value-added products can be produced. Therefore, the priority task for the agricultural sector in Ukraine after the Victory is processing. The prerequisites for this are in place - the law on cooperation has been adopted, and the last thing we need is to amend the Tax Code of Ukraine on patronage dividends. Of course, these are big risks that agrarians have to take, but it is worth this responsibility right now," said the head of the UAC.

According to Andrii Dykun, Ukraine needs an economy that will generate a large amount of foreign exchange earnings, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, with new technologies, and favorable business conditions for foreign and domestic investors. The Head of the UAC also noted that Ukraine now has a Roadmap for the development of the dairy industry.

"We can create powerful dairy clusters. Investing in dairy processing is no less profitable than crop production, but we need technology. Large farms mean high wages, jobs and high added value. A hectare of land will yield much more than any other crop through milk. For example, the Polish producer Mielekowita processes 5 thousand tons of milk per day. The whole Ukraine, all our dairies, do not process that much in a day. The project we considered before the war and currently work on is milk processing," said Andrii Dykun. 

The head of the UAC thanked USAID AGRO, in particular the projects of the UAC and the SaveUA Charitable Foundation, for their work and contribution to the preservation and development of the Ukrainian agricultural sector during the war.