Increased land sale limits and the lack of a government decision to extend the 5-7-9 preferential lending program until March 2025 - Denys Marchuk, Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council, named the main challenges for the agricultural sector.

"Agricultural producers are concerned about the increase in land sale limits to 10,000 hectares per person. The current conditions on the land market are not competitive enough to withstand large legal campaigns, and not only from the agricultural sector. Farmers who defend land on the front lines are concerned that their businesses could be disrupted by large, well-funded campaigns," he said.

The Ukrainian Agri Council appealed to the President and the Prime Minister to postpone the increase in land sales limits for the duration of the war, but there is still no decision. Although the government promises certain financial instruments through the State Guarantee Fund for small agricultural enterprises that cultivate up to 500 hectares, medium-sized businesses have not been offered any support.

According to him, in 2023, the losses of commodity producers in crop production will reach more than EUR3 billion.

"Growing sunflower, wheat and corn does not cover the cost of production. Prices for these types of agricultural products have fallen. We will face difficulties again during the spring sowing season. Due to the lack of working capital, farmers will apply minimal amounts of fertilizers and plant protection products and buy seeds of lower quality. Therefore, it is extremely important to extend the program of preferential lending to agricultural producers for another year. These loans will save producers. Most of these funds will be used for re-lending, unfortunately, not for development," added Mr. Marchuk.