Ukraine over 26 years of its existence still does not have a law on agrarian policy – the head of the USBA Iryna Palamar

Submitted by bashun on Tue, 05/29/2018 - 16:28

Today, representatives of the agrarian sector are actively discussing the draft law № 8171 "On the fundamentals of state agrarian policy and state policy of rural development", whose goal is finally to introduce a clear plan in the formation of agrarian policy.

I say "finally" because over almost 26 years of Ukraine's existence as an independent state we still do not have the basic law that would determine the agrarian policy of Ukraine and its vector. And this despite the fact that the agricultural sector forms 14% of the national gross product and more than 40% of Ukraine's foreign exchange earnings. That is, we always say that Ukraine is an agrarian state. So why our Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food only now could create a legislative basis for the development of this sector of the economy?

Of course, at the state level, certain common concepts or programs are periodically adopted. However, they are temporary, and sometimes there are several programs or concepts that run counter to each other. There are many special laws on specific issues. Nevertheless, there is still no single basic strategic document that can be guided in the work.

Therefore, we, the Ukrainian Stock Breeders Association, as an association of producers, place great hopes on this document. In addition, it is very good that it provides for an increase in public participation in the formation of agrarian policy. If indeed public organizations perform certain functions that have been monopolized by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy, then, finally, can we cease to be hostages to the opaque "cutting" of budget funds or other corruption schemes? (As it happened recently, when the distribution of state support funds for agrarians for 2018 was taken "quietly," and producers and the public were then simply put before the fact). Moreover, who, if not the real producers, industry experts, scientists can better understand the needs of the sector?

That is why our Ukrainian Stock Breeders Association draws attention to the fact that it is very important that the bill determines the most actual priorities of the state agrarian policy.

Today, draft law No. 8171 defines the following priorities of the state agrarian policy as: ensuring food security of the state; increase of competitiveness of Ukrainian agricultural products and development of agro-food chains of creation of added value; protection of rights and interests of landowners and land users, etc. However, are these priorities really defined based on broad expert thinking, research institutions and forecasting? After all, it is important that the agrarian policy of Ukraine develops in step with the world trends and demands, and it should be competitive. And of course, that the forecast of the state agrarian policy and the preparation of the Action Plan should be carried out with the involvement of a broader circle of people, not only the Ministry of Agrarian Policy!

In the bill there are other shortcomings, such as, for example, significant declarativeness of its norms. That is, certain norms, but, unfortunately, there are not enough specific mechanisms for their implementation. Therefore, there is a risk of once again encountering a situation where certain provisions contradict each other, and it is impossible to fulfill certain norms in reality.

Of course, the problem remains the absence of agrarian policy on the post of Minister. There is no one to take responsibility; there is no one to ask. Therefore, the creation of such a document on the development of the state sector strategy is, of course, an important thing. Nevertheless, will this help to streamline the situation in the industry if its leader is sport? In addition, while the industry remains without a leader, the country will continue to mess. Producers and public organizations are trying to reach the authorities. The authorities, in turn (in particular, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy), take something for themselves and redistribute state money. Moreover, Ukrainians, meanwhile, are in risk of staying without meat.

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