On March 4, the Vinnytsia Agrarian Forum took place, organized by the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC) in cooperation with the Vinnytsia Regional Military Administration and the Vinnytsia Regional Council. The event served as a platform for open dialogue between farmers, representatives of the government, parliament, and local authorities on the key challenges facing the region’s agricultural sector.

During the forum, participants addressed a number of issues related to farming under wartime conditions, climate risks, and regulatory constraints. Responding to questions from the audience, Taras Vysotskyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, explained the tools currently available to farmers to mitigate drought risks:

“There are at least two instruments the state offers today to address drought. The first is agricultural insurance, which farmers should use more actively. The state compensates part of the cost, making this mechanism more accessible. The second component is the identification and management of risk farming zones. Essentially, this refers to situations where soil analysis shows a lack of productive moisture in the one-meter layer. In such cases, farmers can submit documents through the State Agrarian Register and access compensation programs. We hope the need for these tools will be limited, but they are already in place this year and should help farmers under challenging conditions.”

Significant changes are also expected due to adaptation to European regulations. Farmers raised concerns about the implementation of EU production standards, particularly regarding the use of plant protection products.

“By January 1, 2029, Ukraine must implement European production standards. The European Union expects Ukraine to adapt quickly following trade agreements. However, the quotas granted to us are only a temporary support tool. According to our estimates, due to the ban on approximately 100 types of pesticides currently used by Ukrainian farmers, production costs could increase by €70–150 per hectare depending on the crop, and total sector losses could reach around €2.5 billion. Therefore, continuous communication with parliament on EU integration conditions and the protection of Ukrainian producers’ interests is critically important for the agricultural sector,” emphasized Andrii Dykun, Chairman of the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC).

During the discussion, farmers also raised practical operational issues with Members of Parliament representing Vinnytsia region, Larysa Bilozir and Mykola Kucher.

Key topics included calculation of the Minimum Tax Liability (MTL), the condition of rural roads and its impact on logistics and production costs, the possibility of leasing ponds and maintaining shelterbelts, blocking of tax invoices, currency restrictions on holding funds in accounts, challenges related to electricity connection and capacity expansion for agricultural enterprises.

Farmers emphasized that the sector urgently needs clear rules, predictable state policy, and ongoing dialogue with authorities. The forum in Vinnytsia became another step toward building such communication between agribusiness and government institutions.