Andrii Dykun, the UAС Chairman, offers five important solutions to support the industry on the pages of ‘Ekonomichna Pravda’ edition.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian agricultural sector has suffered direct losses of more than USD 10 billion, from the destruction of agricultural machinery totaling USD 5.8 billion to the loss and destruction of livestock farms worth more than USD 250 million.

Tens of thousands of men who worked at the enterprises were mobilized into the Armed Forces, and women fled to the EU countries because of the hostilities to save their children.

The decline in population has a negative impact on the economy of communities. The loss of each employee is a significant blow, as every employee in a company is highly valuable.

Retaining employees is a priority, as training new specialists requires significant time and financial resources. But even if training is necessary, the main question is how to attract new people, how to support agricultural producers in these difficult conditions and bring life back to Ukrainian villages.

1. Overcoming obstacles on doing business for those who did not obey Russian occupation

Ukrainian farmers who fled the occupied territories of Kherson, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions because of patriotic reasons lost everything: their homes, farms, livestock, and crops.

And nowadays, paradoxically, they are being persecuted by Ukrainian banks and demanded to repay the loans they took out before the full-scale war. But they cannot do this, because everything has been destroyed by the occupiers or remains under the control of the regional administrations in the occupied territory, and farmers no longer have access to their own property.

The UAC has publicly raised this issue not more than once, emphasizing the adoption of draft law No. 11180-1, which provides for the loan payments suspending for farmers who have left their businesses located in the temporarily occupied territories.

How the state helps farmers during the war

The adoption of the draft law will allow us to return highly professional specialists to the industry, revive agriculture in other regions and strengthen the economy of communities.

2. Priority of state land lease for displaced Ukrainians

The launch of auctions for the lease of state land is great news. However, the priority should be given to those who already have experience in cultivating this land, i.e. temporarily displaced Ukrainian farmers, farmers who have left the occupied territories, and those who have lost their land.

If we do not prioritize them, we risk to lose this unique labor force to other countries.

3. The 5-7-9% state preferential lending program to support agricultural producers

Preferential lending programs such as “5-7-9%”. This is a very important and necessary program, and we are all grateful for it, but the credit limits for it have been increased only for livestock.

According to farmers, all participants in the agricultural sector need to increase the limits. It is also necessary to develop proposals for the “5-7-9%” program for farmers from the temporarily occupied and deliberated territories. This is not only about supporting business, but also about ensuring the country's food security and, again, about restoring the industry in villages and communities.

4. Support for women farmers who are ready to restore their agricultural business and start enterprises

Before the full-scale war, the share of women who headed family farms was about 10%. We don't have exact figures yet, but because of the war, women have taken on more of the functions of men in farm management, driving combines by themselves, working in frontline regions, and relocating businesses from the zone of hostilities.

However, they do not receive sufficient attention from the state, such as grant support, special loan conditions, or vouchers that allow them to pay for education.

In general, there are critically few government programs to engage women in entrepreneurial activities in the agricultural sector. All this falls on the shoulders of agricultural producers.

⁠5. Education in the agricultural sector for the younger generation

The state should pay attention to the personnel situation in the agricultural sector of Ukraine, promote the reform of specialized education and the development of the market for educational services in the training of employees. The industry needs young, active, motivated, highly educated, responsible and creative people who consciously choose this area and link their future to it.

For five years, members of the UAC have been supporting a special course called “Agrosphere” to immerse high school students in modern agricultural production.

It was introduced and successfully tested at the Ukrainian Agricultural Lyceum in Uman and a number of schools in several regions. As the founder of the Lyceum, I annually provide scholarships for children who want to study the agricultural sector.

The scholarships are also provided by the UAC members. This is our joint contribution to future industry professionals. I am convinced that such educational courses should be offered at the national level in all regions of the country. Only then will we be able to raise a new generation of modern farmers who will bring life back to communities, develop the industry and strengthen the state's economy.

To summarize, I would add that this is an incomplete list of issues, but they are important for supporting small and medium-sized agricultural producers today. I hear about this every day from farmers from different regions of Ukraine. Resolving these issues will ensure support for Ukrainian farmers, restoration of communities, and thus Ukraine!