Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solsky told the UA marathon how many million hectares of sown land in Ukraine have decreased, how it will affect food security in the world, and what are the biggest challenges facing the agricultural sector today. This was reported by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy.
“Today, due to hostilities, it is impossible to sow 3.5 million hectares of agricultural land. Accordingly, the amount of future proceeds is reduced, “Mykola Solskyi explained.
According to the Minister, today the state recommends farmers and farmers to sow primarily those crops that cost more per ton, and a smaller harvest per hectare to simplify the logistics of harvesting at the expense of smaller volumes. This applies in particular to sunflower, rapeseed and soybeans.
“Of course, today the farmer chooses what to sow. But the state and all market participants are in contact with each other, “the Minister stressed, noting that farmers are now fully supplied with seeds.
He also assured that farmers have become accustomed to difficult conditions and are finding options for storing, transporting the necessary resources and providing other important things for sowing.
Regarding fuel supply, Mykola Solskyi answered that there is a certain projected deficit at the moment, but right now farmers have the opportunity to get the necessary fuel for sowing.
“It is clear that sowing is just beginning, and the amount of fuel needs to be increased, but in a market economy with such an enterprising conscious people as ours, especially with farmers, a solution will be found,” he said. The biggest challenge, according to the Minister, is the issue of grain exports.
“Significant limitation of export logistics opportunities directly affects how much farmers and agrarians can sell grain – respectively, how much money they need for salaries, sowing, payments to tenants, etc. This is the most difficult thing, “he said.
Therefore, the priority tasks today are: to establish logistics, enable farmers to continue working and make a profit, keep the business, pay rent to farmers and provide employment for workers.
Regarding the guarantees of food security in the world, Mykola Solsky stressed that today all states need to adequately and deeply understand the complexity of the situation and make every effort to stop this war.
“After all, any continuation of the war is a rise in the price of food for all countries, including those who have not thought about it before,” he said.