As a result of the joint work of experts from the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC) and the USAID Agriculture Growing Rural Opportunities Activity in Ukraine (AGRO), six important legislative changes were introduced as part of the project of supporting agricultural MSMEs affected by active hostilities or Russia’s temporary occupation.

The project team actively cooperated with the parliament, government, and other executive authorities to develop systemic solutions to support affected agricultural producers. As a result of this cooperation, the government has already adopted a number of important resolutions, including:

• Banks are allowed to provide preferential loans to farmers registered in the areas of active hostilities.
• Amendments to the 5-7-9 loan program are introduced to enterprises relocated from the territories of active hostilities and occupation.
• A 30% discount to Ukrzaliznytsia transportation tariffs has been established. This discount applies to the export transportation of agricultural products from stations located in the territories of active and possible hostilities.
• The term of concessional lending in the “high military risk zone” has been extended to three years. The benefits apply to 400,000 hectares of agricultural land in the frontline regions. As a result, farmers will be able to save more than UAH 300 million, which they can use for recovery.
• Farmers have got right for compensation for the costs incurred for demining of agricultural land for the period from February 24, 2022 to April 15, 2024.

These changes are an important step towards the restoration and development of the agricultural sector in Ukraine in the frontline areas that have been most affected by the hostilities.