Today, domestic farmers are facing the challenge of integration into the EU single market. In order to find out the attitudes of pig producers on this issue, the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) conducted a survey among producers who provide about 80% of the industrial supply of pork (the total number of animals is more than 2 million, of which 168 thousand are sows).
As a result, it was found that only 24% of the surveyed producers consider Ukraine's accession to the EU to be positive, as it will provide access to new markets, where, in their opinion, there are more transparent rules and conditions. At the same time, this percentage is explained by the fact that the majority (40%) associate EU accession with a loss of competitiveness, 26% fear stricter regulatory requirements, and 10% say the sector is technically and financially unprepared, given the large amount of investment needed to improve the production system in line with all European requirements.
Under these circumstances, 36.2% of pork producers surveyed believe that concessional loans, grants, other compensation and access to financial resources are needed to facilitate the sector's transformation to meet EU requirements. Others believe that it is necessary to remove the corruption/bureaucratic component in the processes of obtaining permits and certificates, the high share of the black market, and to overcome individual difficulties of operators, as well as economic and military challenges.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) aims to reduce poverty and hunger in the world by developing agriculture, improving nutrition and addressing food security (availability of food for all at all times). It was founded in Quebec on 16 October 1945. The motto is ‘Helping to build a world without hunger’.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is an international financial institution that provides assistance to countries from Central Europe to Central Asia to carry out market reforms and actively integrate their economies into international economic relations. It was established in 1991. Headquartered in London.
The Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders is a non-profit, voluntary organisation founded by domestic pork producers. The main goals of the association are to represent and protect the rights and interests of the association's farms, promote the development and implementation of new technologies for efficient pork production, expand sales markets, and protect the domestic market.