On behalf of thousands of small and medium-sized agricultural producers, the Ukrainian Agri Council has registered a petition on the website of the President of Ukraine. The farmers ask Volodymyr Zelenskyy to "Protect the Ukrainian village - postpone until the end of the war the increase in the maximum area of agricultural land in one hand from 100 to 10,000 hectares."

At the same time, the UAC appeals to Ukrainians and asks them to join the signing of the petition so that the document can receive the number of votes necessary for consideration - https://petition.president.gov.ua/petition/209616

"Today, Ukrainian farmers are going through the most difficult times in the history of Ukraine's independence. As a result of the war, agricultural enterprises have been operating at a loss for the second year in a row, suffering financial losses every day due to blocked ports, logistical problems and low grain prices. Russia continues to attack the agricultural infrastructure and target grain elevators and ports. Much of the land plots are mined, and a large number of businesses still remains in the occupied territories.

The second phase of the land reform, which will start on January 1, 2024, will be a new challenge for the agricultural sector. The maximum size of a land plot that one person can purchase will increase from the current 100 to 10,000 hectares.

Such legislative changes are inappropriate in a time of war and lead to the destruction of small and medium-sized agribusinesses. These categories of farmers do not have the funds to buy land and cannot get loans for this purpose, and thus will be cut off from the opportunity to purchase land.

Mr. President, you have stated: "small and medium-sized businesses are the backbone of the economy, generating more than 60% of GDP, 7 million jobs and almost 40% of tax revenues. "Farmers, who are the business representatives, have been ensuring the economic life of the country since the first days of the war.

Farmers have no money, so increasing the limit of agricultural land in ownership will lead to buying up land for nothing by oligarchs and corrupted officials. Therefore, today it is extremely important to save the farmers who give their last to support the Armed Forces, and not those who make money on corruption and war.

We ask you to keep the current limit of 100 hectares of land in one hand for both legal entities and individuals until the end of the war and for another two years after the victory.

We ask you, Mr. President, to submit these legislative proposals to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and facilitate their prompt adoption.

"As you said, 'the state and business should work as a team, not as two parallel worlds that do not hear or understand each other'. We hope that you will hear and understand the base of Ukraine's agricultural sector - small and medium-sized businesses!" is mentioned in the petition.