The protest campaign against fertilizers market monopolization (which was placed near the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the President’s Office) gathered more than 1 thousand agricultural producers – from the small enterprises to the big one. Agricultural producers protested against quotas introduction for nitrogen fertilizers import to Ukraine. Ministry’s for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine actions threaten that monopoly will be stronger because of the main fertilizers producer – the company group “OstChem” (the owner is Dmytri Firtash).

The UAC Chairman Andriy Dykun asked the Government to protect agrarians’ interests, who inspite of the pandemic were obliged to take part in the protest campaign, because they want their opinion to be heard.  

“Dear officials, I speak to you on behalf of all Ukrainian agrarians and members of the public: we are not going to give you a chance for monopoly introduction. If someone doesn’t understand what monopoly means – I can explain. Today monopoly for electricity is active. Who get our payment for it? Oligarchs, who sell it abroad chipper than for us. Who get our payment for gas? Oligarchs. Who will get our payment for fertilizers? Oligarchs! We are here not to stand for our interests. We are here to fight against the oligarchs. If oligarchs disappear from our country, it will be different.” – Andriy Dykun mentions.

The Ukrainian Agribusiness Club Association Chief Officer Roman Slastion remarked that quotas introduction – it’s the corruption scheme, that can become legal through adoption of a law and it will make financial burden harder for agrarians.

“Now agrarians pay 30% more for fertilizers. At the world market it’s cheaper. But that is not enough for monopolist’s representatives. They want to add quotas, because they can use them and dictate terms on the market. They want to deprive agrarians of the opportunity to buy fertilizers for lower prices and have unrestricted competition. A total control of fertilizers market, money chase from agrarians’ pockets (they have already suffered from dry season and hoarfrost) –we will get all of that after quotas introduction. We cannot let this happen, because fertilizers market will be monopolized. Agrarians are ready to advocate for their rights!” – Roman Slastion comments.

Agrarians assert: monopolization will make fertilizers more expensive and, of course, food products will be more expensive too. Fertilizers part in product’s cost value is no less than 30%.

“In fact, this appeals every Ukrainian citizen. Because it threatens with higher prices for food products as a result. That will make a potential collapse at the agricultural industry for a lot of enterprises, because they can fail. It means – a lot of people can lose work. At last – less return of duties to the budget. It goes without saying – agrarians are the main budget contributors.” – The Chairman of the Ukrainian National Farmers’ Congress Ivan Slobodianyk explains.

The Agricultural Union of Ukraine Chairman Hennadiy Novikov mentions that, under the shelter of help for Ukrainian chemical industry, the Government want to help one oligarch-monopolist, who always make money at the agrarians’ expense.  

“You get the impression that it’s like inhuman exploitation of an altruist. How can we support domestic producer by robbing other producers? Fertilizers monopoly is the same thing that we have for gasoline. We are not here just to protest. We presented our calculations, and according them - today the price, for example, of ammonium nitrate at 30% of profitability makes is 5,5 thousand hryvnias. And they sell it for 6,5 thousand hryvnias. So, we pay 1 thousand hryvnas more. Isn’t it enough?” – Hennadiy Novikov mentions.

The initiators of the protest campaign were Ukrainian Agribusiness Club Association, Ukrainian Agri Council, Agricultural Union of Ukraine, Ukrainian National Farmers’ Congress and Agri-Food Council Union.

Agrarians ask officials listen to their opinion and don’t make a situation, when oligarch’s factories will make money at the agrarians’ expense. Moreover, today, because of bad weather conditions, quarantine aftermaths, low world prices for agricultural production – agrarians need the Government’s help, because agrarians make 40% of exchange earnings to Ukrainian budget.