First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Taras Vysotskyi told the national marathon UA ​​together what percentage of areas in Ukraine will be sown this year; which factor remains the most crucial for the successful completion of the sowing campaign and whether Ukraine will be able to leave its status in the TOP-10 food exporters despite the war.

 “There are two main items that need to be fulfilled for sowing: the first and most important - the safety factor, the second - the availability of the necessary resources”, - said Taras Vysotskyi.

According to him, before starting the sowing campaign, farmers should make sure that the fields are not mined. If they are mined, they must be quickly demined. For this, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, together with the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, has developed instructions and spread it to all farmers and agrarians. Thus, if you find any suspicious objects that may look like mines, you should immediately call 102, or contact the local division of State Emergency Service of Ukraine or the military administration.

“As for the provision of farmers with the necessary resources, there are four main components: fertilizers, seeds, plant protection products and fuel. The first three positions the agrarians in most cases managed to buy or pre-order before February 24, before the war. Therefore, all this is either at the enterprises already or is being delivered now”,- the Deputy Minister said.

The most crucial factor is fuel/diesel, Taras Vysotskyi stressed.

“It was not purchased by 80-90%, so now there is a daily coordination and supply of diesel to farmers, in fact “from the wheels“, including the recent destruction of oil depositories and production facilities. So far, everyone is managing with this factor. We are grateful to farmers for their understanding, fuel suppliers and all those who is involved in the process. Now the lack of diesel does not stop the pace of sowing, but this factor remains critical – every day we monitor the balance and support suppliers and farmers, so that there will be enough diesel for sowing,“– he said.

According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy forecast, to the pessimistic forecast, 70% of the area will be sown. If in Chernihiv and Sumy regions, where there are huge agricultural areas, everything will be demined in the coming weeks, the sown area may increase up to 80%.

“Therefore, Ukraine can be calm in terms of food security. In recent decades, we have exported 70% of our own food products, leaving 30% for domestic consumption. So, we will have all food products enough for us, even with such reduced sown territories,”- Taras Vysotsky assured.

If we expect to sow 70% of the territory, we will take 30-40% of it for domestic consumption and there will also be a balance for export, said the Deputy Minister, emphasizing that Ukraine is ready and will continue to play its important role in ensuring global food security.

“The most crucial factor in export is the blockade of the ports in Odesa and Mykolayiv, because more than 90% of agricultural export took place before the war through these ports. Other infrastructure is limited. Therefore, if we manage to unblock the ports in the nearest future, based on the results of this year, we will be able to remain at least in the TOP-10 food exporters. If there are export by alternative means – railway or automobile – then, of course, the place will be weaker, because physically to export such a volume of food products by other means will not succeed quickly. This infrastructure needs to be developed, and it will take time,” - Taras Vysotsky explained.

Reference source: Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine