Ukraine can increase annual agricultural production to 200 mln tonnes, process up to 50% of crops in 10 years - deputy minister

MOSCOW. July 13 (Interfax) - Ukraine will be able to increase agricultural production to 200 million tonnes of food products and feed 600 million people on the planet annually in ten years after the end of the crisis, given that all the 32 million hectares of farmlands are cultivated, Ukrainian First Deputy Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Taras Vysotsky said in presenting a strategy for the development of the Ukrainian agribusiness sector.

"Our goals include providing 600 million people on the planet with food products, developing an import substitution policy and bringing the share of domestically-used agricultural products to 90%, encouraging competition in the processing sector and processing 50% of the harvest, developing the bio-methane market, and securing an investment portfolio of $57 million, which is absolutely realistic. However, we need a different reference point for that," Ukrainian media quoted Vysotsky's statement circulated by the ministry, which he made at a conference dealing with a dialogue between the state and the business community in Kiev on Wednesday.

Around 350 million people in numerous countries experience food shortages, and the planet's population keeps growing, while climatic conditions are worsening for the agribusiness sector, he said.

At the same time, Ukraine's agricultural capability is substantial and can grow; however, to increase its agricultural production, Ukraine should focus on the automation and digitalization of all agricultural processes, Vysotsky said.