UAC Deputy Chairman Mykhaylo Sokolov participated in hearings at the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Agrarian and Land Policy, during which MPs discussed programs for state support for the agricultural sector for 2020.

Prior to the approval of the programs, UAC had repeatedly emphasized that, because of the small amount of funds allocated to all programs, they should be directed to priority areas. It is worth noting that the authorities have listened to the opinion of agrarians, because almost half of the planned funds are directed to support livestock and purchase of agricultural land during the opening of the market.

To support the farmers in 2020, the government allocates 4.24 billion UAH, which will be distributed as follows:

-1,2 billion UAH - for making loans cheaper, which will be given for the purchase of land, current and capital investments, construction of livestock complexes. However, the program of compensation of interest on loans, which will be granted for the purchase of land, is provided for no more than 5 million UAH per year per one person.

The government has listened to the UAC's proposals of the program of compensation of interest on loans taken for the construction of livestock complexes. There is a cap on allocating funds to a group of related parties of $ 15 million. This means that one company will no longer be able to receive half or a quarter of all state support, as it was before.

-1 billion UAH - for livestock. This program provides for partial reimbursement of tribal resources; livestock facilities financed in recent years with credit, as well as a grant for existing bee families. Limit on funds - no more than 50 million UAH. per one entity including related entities.

- 1 billion UAH - for partial compensation of the cost of machinery and equipment of domestic production. The list of equipment and equipment that the state will compensate for will be expanded.

- 400 million UAH - in support of horticulture, viticulture and hops. The funds are allocated for laying plantations of gardens, berries, vineyards; construction of refrigerators and freezing facilities for fruit and berry products; acquisition of lines of commercial processing of fruits; equipment for drying fruits.

Plantation compensation will reach up to 90%, storage and processing facilities up to 30%. Support limit -  50 million UAH  one entity with related entities.

-1 billion UAH - for partial compensation of the cost of machinery and equipment of domestic production. The list of equipment and equipment that the state will compensate for will be expanded.

- 400 million UAH - in support of horticulture, viticulture and hops growing. The funds are allocated for laying plantations of gardens, berries, vineyards; construction of refrigerators and freezing facilities for fruit and berry products; acquisition of lines of commercial processing of fruits; equipment for drying fruits.

Plantation compensation will reach up to 90%, storage and processing facilities up to 30%. Support limit -  50 million UAH per one entity with related entities.

- 400 million UAH - for the development of farming and cooperatives. Funds are provided for advisory services, agricultural service cooperatives, processing facilities, family farms, co-payments of ESA, certification of organic production, family farms.

Regarding advisory services, the UAC's proposal, voiced by Mykhaylo Sokolov that compensation for advisory services should be paid not only for the services of members of the Association of Advisory Services, but also for the services of other consultants. Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture Taras Vysotsky supported the proposal.

In addition, the UAC Deputy Chairman noted that there was no support for vegetables in the program and suggested that it should be corrected.

The government also did not provide a separate program for the expansion of irrigation areas. However, compensation will be available for the partial compensation program for domestic machinery.