24% of the pig industry representatives consider joining the European Union to be positive, as it will open access to new markets with more transparent rules and conditions, according to a study conducted by the Pig Producers of Ukraine in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
Analysts noted that such a low percentage of positive responses is due to the fact that the majority (40%) of respondents associate EU accession with the loss of their competitiveness, 26% fear tighter 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 accordance with all European requirements.
“Under such conditions, 36.2% of pork producers who took part in the survey are convinced that for a faster and easier transformation of the industry in accordance with EU requirements, preferential loans, grants, other compensations and access to financial resources are needed. Others believe it is necessary to remove the corruption/bureaucratic component in the processes of obtaining permits and certificates, the high share of the black market, overcome individual difficulties of operators, as well as economic and military challenges,” the industry association explained.
The survey involved pork producers who provide about 80% of the industrial supply on the market. Their total livestock is more than 2 million heads.
