Kyiv, 08 July 2014 – The Government’s current priorities are to hold a crop gathering campaign and to provide food for the residents of the cities of Slovyansk and Kramatorks in the Donetsk region that have been liberated from the terrorists by the Anti-terrorist operation (ATO) forces. The Ukrainian Agricultural Council set up upon the order of the President has engaged farmers from a number of regions to supply 5 tons of food to the ATO zone on Sunday, and 5-8 tons of humanitarian aid were delivered to the humanitarian center in Krasnyi Lyman today. This was reported by Ihor Shvayka, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, during a briefing at Ukraine Crisis Media Center.
According to Mr. Shvayka, because of interruptions in power supply in Slovyansk, food is now stored and distributed under field conditions. Later this week, the Minister is planning to personally visit the region and inspect the situation in the east of Ukraine.
The Minister is convinced that all harvest will be gathered. Firstly, all economic incentives have been created for this: the State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine has decided to unilaterally cancel charges for the acceptance of grain coming from eastern regions. “This initiative has been appreciated by producers who work in such difficult environment, and grain elevators are already accepting grain. It will save them a total of UAH 10M, which can be considered as governmental aid,” said Ihor Shvayka. Secondly, a so-called “wartime harvest office” has been established at the Ministry. With the support of the Interior Ministry, Defense Ministry, and the Ministry of Emergencies, harvesting activities in Eastern Ukraine will be overseen by designated personnel to prevent any emergencies such as the one that happened recently when a tractor drove on a mine in the field.
The Government has held negotiations with the management of SC Artemsil, one of the world’s biggest salt producers. Despite the significant damage caused by terrorists’ actions, they decided to repair the plant at their own cost. “In addition, we are beginning to combat the corrupt schemes that the Kluyev brothers used when they controlled the plant to increase company’s profits,” said Ihor Shvayka.
The Minister assured that despite the tough situation that Ukraine is now leaving, a plan to reorganize the Ministry’s structure is being actively developed. Working meetings with the IMF continue to take place. Next year, in accordance with the Ukrainian legislation, all amendments to the tax laws relating to the agricultural sector must be approved and will begin to apply on January 1st 2016.