Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC) welcomes the initiative of the President and the Verkhovna Rada to resume the work of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy! After all, the agricultural sector, which provides the country with 17% of GDP and 40% of foreign exchange earnings, should have a relevant ministry, whose work will be aimed at defending the interests of the industry, including at the international level.

Today, the agricultural sector faces many challenges and one of the biggest is the successful land market opening. However, by then, land decentralization needs to be completed, so that communities become real landowners and can manage them. Another global task – making all sectors of agriculture business legal, which is to important - due to the agriculture illegal work budgets at all levels lose up to UAH 90 billion annually. This year's drought has exposed another problem for farmers - irrigation, which in general is almost destroyed in Ukraine. The fertilizer market needs meticulous supervision to maintain balance and prevent it to be get by the monopolist. In addition, this is only a small part of the issues within the country that need control and urgent solution.

At the same time, Ukraine is an export-oriented country and the share of agricultural products in total exports is almost one half. We need new markets and the Ministry and the Minister personally must work to open them. In some countries, especially in the East, the position of the person being interviewed is extremely important.

UAC also supports the candidacy of Roman Leshchenko for the post of Minister of Agriculture, as a person who is a native of the agrarian community, and who knows all the problems of farmers. Roman Leshchenko has established himself as an effective leader as the head of the State Geocadastre, a man capable of making important decisions for the development of the agricultural sector.

We hope for a quick resumption of the work of the Ministry headed by a professional leader!