January 6, 2012

Ukraine will soon cease from pork and dairy imports because of local businessmen's investments on both sectors, UKRINFORM reports.

There was no such a rapid growth in any sector in 2011 as was in pig breeding. Over 2010, Ukrainian enterprises sent only 610 tonnes of pork abroad, having earned US$2.7 million, whereas over 10 months of 2011, exports made up 9,200 tonnes and earnings – US$42 million. At the same time, exports have sharply reduced. According to estimates of head of the analytical department of the consulting company AAA Maria Kolesnyk, over two years Ukraine imported approximately 30% of pork, whereas now only 5%.

Till now, national and foreign investors ignored this sector of agriculture, preferring plant growing and poultry breeding. A considerable part of pork was produced by private economies. However, either the quality of their products or the volumes which they could supply to the country's processing enterprises, failed to meet the economy needs.

Over recent four months of 2011, corporation Agroprodservice, PJSC Kremenchukmiaso, agroholding KSG Agro and others announced about investments in pig breeding.

Foreign business is also ready to invest, but still it is hampered by the absence of the right to purchase the land for fodder growing. However, even at the expense of internal investments, First Vice Prime Minister Andriy Kliuyev is convinced, Ukraine could refuse from import of meat and meat products over two years.

In 2012, a similar investment boom may start in dairy cattle husbandry, because, the initial conditions are very similar. 80% of products were provided by small economies and it was very difficult for processing enterprises to find quality milk with them.

At the same time, over recent year, the farmers' dairy herd reduced several fold and in 2011, there was not even a seasonal drop of prices for milk, on the contrary, the prices grew. And the projects are enough, which need this raw material: only recently, Danon-Unimilk and a group of companies Milk Alliance, which is planning to arrange production of infant's food on the basis of Yahotyn butter factory since October 2012, stated about their wish to expand production.