The Cabinet of Ministers expanded the program of loans for farmers, allowing them to receive preferential financing for the construction of vegetable storages within the framework of the “Affordable loans 5-7-9%” program. The relevant resolution was approved during the government meeting, informs press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy.
“From now on, agricultural producers investing in the construction of vegetable and potato warehouses will be able to take advantage of state support in the form of interest rate compensation on loans – up to UAH 150 million, as well as enterprises in the livestock and processing industries.”, – noted the head of the ministry Vitaliy Koval.
As a result of the war and the destruction of the infrastructure, the shortage of vegetable storage capacities in Ukraine reached 60%, which creates the need to build new warehouses with a total capacity of 340,000. tons for storage of vegetables and potatoes.
It is assumed that such an initiative will strengthen the food security of the state and help reduce seasonal fluctuations in the prices of vegetables and fruits. Currently, due to a lack of storage, 35% of Ukrainian vegetables spoil before reaching the consumer.
We will remind that on April 15, the chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, Danylo Hetmantsev, said that the loan portfolio of Ukrainian banks in the first quarter of this year grew by only 3.3%. This is considered insufficient to fully satisfy economic needs.
