Food reserve fund may be set up in Ukraine - Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry
2013-05-07 14:43:40
The Food Reserve Fund may be created in Ukraine under the auspices of the World Food Programme (WFP) and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).
This was discussed during a working meeting of the Agricultural Policy and Food Minister Mykola Prysiazhniuk with the WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin, the press service of the Ukrainian agrarian ministry told UKRINFORM.
"We have not only ensured food security inside the state, but could strengthen a status of a reliable trade partner. This is proved by the fact that national grain crops are actively purchased by European countries, which have doubted their quality some five years back. In 2012, the European Union purchased 7.7 million tons of grain, having become the largest importer of Ukrainian bread," the Ukrainian Minister accentuated.
He also noted that Ukraine fully supports the United Nations' steps and initiatives aimed at development of coordinated and all-round approach to solving the world's hunger problem and realizes importance of global cooperation for the sake of ensuring the mankind's food security.
Prysiazhniuk emphasized on the initiative of creation of the permanent Food Reserve Fund under the auspices of the World Food Programme and the FAO, which will enable to effectively response to food challenges in the world.
According to the official, Ukraine is able to constantly renew the food fund objects and to ensure their quick removal to a destination point thanks to availability of the necessary infrastructure.
According to the Agriculture Ministry forecasts, in the nearest future, our state may reach annual grain output of 80 million tons. Out of these, 35 million tons will go to cover the internal needs and the rest - for exports. In Ukraine, such a reserve stock of grain may be created at the level of 5-10 million tons.
In addition, the Minister noted that Ukraine, having positive experience of cooperation with the World Food Programme (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) carries out work with producers on their registration as potential exporters in the UN Global Food Reserves with the aim of intensification of Ukrainian companies' participation in humanitarian programs of the organization, because Ukrainian wheat, sugar and oil may be the main products for supply within the program's framework.