By KYIV. Jan 4 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukraine this year intends to allocate UAH 1.56 billion for state support of the agricultural sector, which is already provided for in the state budget, as well as receive $432 million for lending for sowing at a low interest rate and basic needs of farmers.
In addition, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and other donors have planned to provide Ukraine with $1 billion in the new year under the program of concessional lending to farmers, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solsky said during a press conference at the media center in Kyiv on Wednesday.
According to him, the state budget of Ukraine for 2023 already provides for UAH 1.56 billion of state aid, of which UAH 1 billion will be used to pay grants for the development of gardens and greenhouses, UAH 360 million – for the activities of the partial loan guarantee fund launched shortly before the start of the war in agriculture, and UAH 201 million for the development of water user organizations.
Solsky said that Ukraine, with the help of the World Bank, will receive $432 million in the new year, of which $202 million will be used to pay compensation at interest rates for loans to the agricultural sector under the 5-7-9% program. Another $80 million will be directed to one-time payments to farmers processing from 1 to 120 hectares and one-time subsidies to owners of 3-100 animals (cattle).
In addition, foreign partners will allocate $50 million to support the energy supply of granaries in Ukraine, and $100 million to purchase Ukrainian wheat and its subsequent deliveries to African and Asian countries.
According to the minister, another $1 billion could be received in 2023 to support concessional lending for farmers from the IFC and other donors, assistance between which can be allocated, presumably, in a 50/50 ratio.
