A meeting of the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC) members from all regions of Ukraine was held in Kyiv region. The event was also attended by Taras Vysotskyi, Acting Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, and Oleksandr Kovalchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Taxation and Customs Policy.

Andrii Dykun, the UAC Chairman, presented the main strategic ways of the organization's activities to the farmers and, together with the government officials, raised key issues of the agricultural sector, such as: postponement of workers from military service, lending under the 5-7-9 state preferential loans program, assistance to farmers in the frontline and deliberated territories, and prospects for European integration of the Ukrainian agricultural sector.

Taras Vysotskyi emphasized the importance of the active position of farmers in solving the problems of the sector. In particular, he emphasized the result of the convincing speech of the UAC representatives to the authorities during the Ukrainian Agri Forum - the NBU's position on postponing loans for farmers from the occupied territories had changed in favor of the affected farmers.

“The NBU agreed to amend the legislation. The Chairman of the Committee on Legal Policy supported it. We hope to resolve the issue of adopting the draft law No. 11180-1 in September-October. Thank you all for your active participation and effective communication of the farmers' position.”

Oleksandr Kovalchuk told farmers about the joint work with the UAC in the Tax Committee of the Parliament to develop a draft law that would reduce excise taxes on fuel for agricultural machinery.

The UAC Chairman Andrii Dykun spoke about the strategic directions of the Ukrainian Agri Council. The external priorities of the association for the nearest period include strengthening the position of Ukrainian farmers in the international arena, active work in Brussels to protect the interests of Ukrainian farmers in the context of European integration:

“The agricultural sector faces many challenges on its way to integration with the EU. It is important to understand that EU countries are afraid that Ukrainian products will flood the domestic market. All of us remember well the border closures by our neighbors. And this is a consequence, among other things, of the lack of proper communication with EU politicians. That is why we, as a Union, decided to represent the interests of small and medium-sized agribusiness in Brussels, in the EU countries. The UAC is already included in the register of public organizations in Brussels. Together with experts, we are working on further steps.”

Andrii Dykun also emphasized the importance of further cooperation with government officials and international partners to ensure the stability and development of Ukraine's agricultural sector in the face of the current military challenges.

“This cooperation is critical to support farmers and ensure the country's food security. We are grateful to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and the Tax Committee for their support and willingness to work together for the benefit of Ukraine's agricultural sector,” summarized the UAC Chairman.