At the Ukrainian Agri Forum, initiated by the Office of the President of Ukraine and the government, the UAC members called on the authorities to take urgent action to support the agricultural sector in wartime.

Andrii Dykun, the Ukrainian Agri Council Chairman, emphasized the need to suspend loan repayments for the duration of the war for farmers in the occupied and de-occupied territories and to expand the state preferential loan program “5-7-9” for all participants in the agricultural sector.

“We are asking to suspend loan debts for the period of martial law. There is a draft law No. 11180-1 (On Amendments to the Civil Code of Ukraine on Lending for the Period of Martial Law) in the Parliament that will help farmers start their business, strengthen the economy and pay off their loan debts. Adopt it, remove the ‘noose’ from people, because we already have examples of suicides among farmers because of banking pressure. They have already lost everything. You, as a state, have the opportunity to save the lives and businesses of the best industry leaders. Moreover, in the first half of 2024 alone, Ukrainian banks earned UAH 79 billion. The second issue is the state's preferential loan program “5-7-9”. Yes, this is a very important and necessary program, and we are all grateful for it. But the credit limits under it have been increased only for livestock farming. We are asking to increase them for all farmers. Also, let's create a working group and develop offers for the 5-7-9 program for farmers in the temporarily occupied and deliberated territories,” insisted Andrii Dykun.

At the same time, the Chairman of the largest agrarian association of Ukraine called on the authorities to be fair in increasing taxes and emphasized: “We, the farmers, are in favor of paying taxes and increasing them during the war to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities. But the increase should not be for those who already pay regularly. Firstly, find those who work illegally and do not pay. There must be a fair solution.” Andriy Dykun also emphasized the need to fight corruption in the tax and customs authorities.

Serhii Rybalko, a member of the UAC from Kherson region whose enterprise is under occupation, emphasized the lack of justice on the part of the National Bank of Ukraine and the Ministry of Finance, in particular suspending loans and supporting entrepreneurs who have lost their businesses.

“With the same quantity of people, we have come to the forum, but before we met six months ago and developed measures for the occupied and deliberated territories, and you did not accept them. Nothing has changed. Farmers from these territories are being adjudged for their debts, banks are not implementing your recommendations, and the NBU's position is one of disdain for farmers who have moved from the occupied territories and are ready to work. Why not to provide preferential loans for these people? What is stopping you? The Ministry of Finance has strongly opposed it! We hope that you, as a state, will change your position in favor of Ukrainian people. We also hope that the National Bank will support the draft law No. 11180-1,” emphasized Serhiy Rybalko in his speech.

The farmers present recited numerous examples of unfair treatment of agricultural enterprises by banks. They called on the authorities to listen to the appeals of the affected enterprises, accept the above offers and act in favor of Ukrainian agribusiness. This is a matter not only of the industry's survival, but also of national economic security.

The forum was attended by representatives of agrarian business and associations, Acting Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Taras Vysotskyi, his Deputy Vitalii Holovnya, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy Oleksandr Gaidu, Chairman of the Kirovohrad Regional State Administration Andrii Raykovych, Deputy Ministers of Economy Taras Kachka and Nadiia Bihun, Deputy Minister of Finance Oleksandr Kava, Dadashova Pervin, Director of the NBU Financial Stability Department, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and international organizations.