Agricultural enterprises of Ukraine received credits from commercial banks to the amount of UAH 10.6 billion (1 USD - 7.98 UAH) in 2011, which 1.6 fold exceeds the last year index, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov told in an interview to Uriadovy Kurier (Government Courier) newspaper.

According to him, in 2011, the government intensified crediting of agrarian sector enterprises by commercial banks: over 2,200 enterprises received credits, out of these, 552 enterprises attracted credits on preferential terms to the amount of UAH 2.9 billion.

However, by estimates of scientists, total deficit of working assets and capital investments in agricultural production currently makes up about UAH 90 billion, Azarov said.

According to calculations of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation, for production of 100 million tons of grain Ukraine needs USD 20 billion of investments.

Ukrinform