Agriculture Ministry rep briefs NATO on status of Ukrainian agrarian sector

MOSCOW. April 17 (Interfax) - Ukrainian First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotsky has briefed the NATO Food and Agriculture Planning Committee on the status of the Ukrainian agrarian sector, Ukrainian media said, citing the ministry press service.

The crisis has had a significant impact on food security and operations of the Ukrainian agrarian sector, Vysotsky said. "For instance, the logistics of agricultural exports to global markets has been affected. Therefore, it would be necessary to develop a threat-resistant system of agricultural supplies to guarantee food security of Ukraine and the world," he said.

Some 85% of agricultural products are exported by sea thanks to the maritime corridor unilaterally proclaimed by Kiev, Vysotsky said. "The rest is transported by rail, in addition to an insignificant amount by truck. It is important to preserve every export route, since even a weeklong delay has a critical impact on the agrarian sector and food security of the country," he said.

"Vysotsky is the second representative of the Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Ministry to have briefed NATO on the status of the Ukrainian agrarian sector since 2006," the ministry press service said.