During the meeting, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy explained its priorities in detail, outlining key areas for further work:
- Preparation for accession to the European Union: The Ministry announced its commitment to make every effort to ensure that the Ukrainian agricultural sector is ready for EU integration.
- Increasing the value of exported products: Work on increasing the value of a tonne of exported products from Ukraine by supplying value-added goods.
- Opening up new markets: along with increasing the value of products, it is also important to increase the number of markets where Ukrainian goods are represented.
- Support for the agricultural sector in the frontline areas: this issue is of priority importance for the stability and development of the regions.
For their part, the representatives of the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders raised issues related to the industry and the challenges they face today. In particular, the problem of African swine fever (ASF), which affects not only the development of the industry in the country but also foreign trade. Currently, Ukrainian legislation provides that companies affected by ASF, in addition to the costs of eliminating their livestock, also have to pay VAT on the destroyed livestock. The Ministry acknowledged this injustice and pledged to address this issue as a priority.
The meeting also discussed improving biosecurity, including the introduction of pig identification in private households and changes to legislation to regulate illegal production.
Another important aspect of the industry's development is increasing production capacity. This is a complex issue that is not limited to the number of animals. In particular, the war has exacerbated the problem of cooperation with veterinary plants, as due to a lack of electricity and staff, producers cannot always sell by-products and are forced to keep them on their farms.
Oksana Yurchenko, President of the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders, commented on the importance of supporting the industry in the current environment:
‘Given that pork is one of the most consumed meats in the diets of Ukrainians - about 40% of the consumption structure - pig production is strategically important both for consumers and for our economy. Today, meetings and discussions with the Ministry on plans to support the industry and understand its prospects are extremely important. We find ourselves in an environment where pig farms are threatened by numerous factors, both epizootic and economic. For example, African swine fever can leave businesses without income in the event of an outbreak, and the resumption of grain exports is driving up feed prices in Ukraine, with pork producers buying raw materials at a higher price than they sell them on foreign markets.
The identified priority areas of work, thanks to such cooperation, can ensure steady progress on the identified points, which will benefit all participants in the process.’
At the end of the meeting, representatives of the Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders expressed their hope for further fruitful cooperation with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine to overcome existing challenges and develop the industry. All participants agreed that only joint efforts can achieve stability and competitiveness of the Ukrainian pig industry in the international arena.
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.