Agricultural producers, participants of the UAC, who are located in the territories occupied by Russia, initiated the creation of the public association "Agroproducers in the Occupied Territories". The association was officially registered in Ukraine on September 29.

The main goal is to consolidate efforts to support farmers from temporarily occupied and de-occupied territories, explains Andrii Dykun, Chair of the Ukrainian Agri Council.

"The entrepreneur’s rights for agricultural activity in occupied and de-occupied territories are violated and are not protected at a decent level. Those who are still working are at risk to be put in prison according to Ukrainian law. And for those who left, it is difficult to restore their own business in the free territories. There are also a lot of problems: from the inability to pay loans and rent, to the demining of de-occupied territories and the renewing of trade relations. A new association created on the basis of the UAC will now protect these interests, " said Andrii Dykun.

4 priority tasks of the "Agricultural producers in the occupied territories":

1. Decriminalization of agricultural production in temporarily uncontrolled territory. Today, Ukrainian law criminalizes any economic activity in the occupied territory. On the other hand, farmers from the territories of Ukraine affected by Russian troops are forced to work to feed their families, and often the whole village. Therefore, the first initiative of the association is to legally define "permitted" types of economic activity in the occupied territories, including agricultural production.

2. Stimulation of agricultural producers to resume economic activity in territories controlled by Ukraine. Undoubtedly, it is necessary to stimulate agricultural producers from the occupied territories so that they resume economic activity in the territories controlled by Ukraine. In particular, the participants of agricultural association can be given benefits for the land rent pay in the amount of the taxes, fees, and payments paid by the producer during the last five years.

3. Restructuring of bank debt of agricultural producers. The association will be aimed at restructuring the producer’s bank debt and deferring the payment of debt obligations until the end of hostilities.

4. Demining of territories. Because of the war, a lot of territories that have been temporary occupied or in the war zone are still mined. Considering the size of such territories, the State Emergency Service cannot independently ensure their effective demining. It refers to the land plots of rural areas that are not included in the priority of the State Emergency Service. Legislativly simplified access to demining services for private companies is proposed.

The association will also take care of the resumption of work at the new location with production quality and safety standards; formation of new sales channels and markets; establishing partnerships between enterprises in the regions; returning relocated enterprises to their native regions and ensuring their economic development after deoccupation.