The Ministry for Development of Economy, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine allocated UAH 762 million of partial compensation for loan interest to agricultural producers out of UAH 1.2 billion, the amount of state support planned for these needs in 2020.
According to a report on the ministry’s website, the total amount of loans attracted by agro-industrial complex exceeded UAH 74 billion, of which soft loans (subject to compensation) are UAH 17.6 billion, including the types of loans: short-term 45.8%, medium-term 24,5%, long-term 29.7%; and the types of activities of borrowers: livestock industry 17.1%, and other industries 82.9%.
The average interest rates of banks, at which the subjects of the agro-industrial complex attracted loans, amounted to 14-16% per annum.
As reported, under the budget program of financial support for agricultural producers in the direction of financial support for activities in the agro-industrial complex by reducing the cost of loans in 2020, some UAH 1.2 billion are provided. For the period of January-September, 63.5% of the planned was actually used.
Of the total number of authorized banks that signed a memorandum on general principles of cooperation with the Ministry of Economy (34 banks), 32 banks participate in providing compensation for loans.
Ukrainian agrarians as of November 5 had sowed 7 million hectares with winter grains with the projected area being 7.2 million hectares for the 2019 harvest.
According to a report on the website of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, 6 million hectares of the area were sown with winter wheat, with the forecast being 6.2 million hectares, 120,000 hectares with rye with the forecast standing at 150,000 hectare, and 870,000 hectares with winter barley with the forecast being 870,000 hectares.
In addition, one million hectares were sown with winter rapeseeds, with a forecast of 890,000 hectares.
“We are reaching the projected result of 7.2 million hectares under winter crops for grain. As of November 5, about 150,000 hectares more were sown than on the same date last year,” First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Maksym Martyniuk said on Facebook.
According to him, the work was carried out within the best terms, the level of soil moisture was sufficient both for sowing and to ensure the best conditions for growth and development.
“The availability of material and technical resources was at the level or above the need. The availability of mineral fertilizers for the autumn field work amounted to 776,000 tonnes or 108% of the application, in particular phosphate fertilizers amounted to 207,000 tonnes (109% of the need),” Martyniuk reported.