News From Agro-Industrial Complex

Mr. Taras Vysotskyi, the First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, spoke in the national information telethon «United News» about the upcoming spring sowing campaign, the problems with grain exports and why the food initiative «Grain from Ukraine» supports not only African countries, but also Ukrainian farmers.

According to his opinion, while last year as of February 24, 2022 the agrarians were fully prepared for the sowing campaign, now there is a problem with liquidity, availability of finance, which complicates and slows down the preparation for field work. At the same time, the farmers are strongly intended to work.

The fall in real gross domestic product (GDP) of Ukraine in 2022 is estimated at 30.4% [±2%], which is better than preliminary forecasts, the Economy Ministry said on Thursday.

As noted in a press release from the ministry, in December, the fall in GDP is estimated at 34% [±2%] compared with 37% [±2%] in November, given a certain stabilization of the energy supply situation after shelling in November.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is concerned by the Russian Federation’s actions leading to delays in operations of the grain corridor through the Black Sea.

Starting from 14 October 2022, Russia’s inspectors assigned to the Istanbul Joint Coordination Centre have been significantly prolonging the inspection of vessels, which are heading to Ukraine’s ports for grain loads, or have already been loaded and are on their way to the final destination. As a result, more than 165 vessels have been stuck in a queue near the Bosporus Strait, and this number continues to grow daily. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reminds the owners and crew members of foreign ships staying in the Ukrainian ports, in particular in the temporarily occupied territories, of the necessity to strictly abide by the Ukrainian legislation and international law.

We are aware of the demand of the Russian occupation administration in the Kherson oblast for foreign vessels to raise the Russian flag as an additional flag during their stay in the port of Kherson.