February 13, 2013

Ukraine to reduce pork imports by 40% in 2013

In accordance with Ukraine's revitalisation programme of the economy for 2013-14, the country will build and reconstruct 153 livestock breeding complexes. In addition, the state will support individual farmers and owners of family farms to increase pork production and its marketability.

"As of today, Ukrainians eat 90% of food produced in Ukraine. This is a very high figure. Today we import only exotic vegetables, fruits, fish and a certain quantity of poultry and pork. And this year, we will be able to reduce pork imports by 40%," Mykola Prysyazhnyuk noted.

He noted that the implementation of such a task is provided and in the State Programme of revitalisation of the economy for 2013-14, and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food will be one of the performers of this task.

"It is extremely important question that remains to encourage farmers to build, reconstruct and modernise livestock complexes. So in 2013, we will send the funds in such a way as to motivate farmers to build new farms," the Minister said.

In addition, the Ukraine government will encourage livestock production this year by farms of the population and continue to provide significant state support to individual farmers, in particular for the keeping of young cattle. All this will provide an increase in livestock production, will help create new jobs in rural areas, and give the opportunity to develop rural infrastructure and improve social services.

"Existing and new forms of support for owners of family farms will encourage them to increase livestock production, in particularly, quality pork and increase its marketability," Mykola Prysyazhnyuk said.