Agrarian Policy Ministry prepares rural development brief

Ukraine continues to implement on of the President Viktor Yanukovych's priority tasks: rural area development. The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food is drafting a concept paper on rural development till 2025. The document will ensure the maximum development of rural areas in all regions of Ukraine. Thus, the government continues to support farmers through agricultural cooperation and budget programs. The announcement was made by Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Prysyazhnyuk, the Information-Analytical Bulletin of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine informs.

"President Viktor Yanukovich noted that solution of rural development issues shall be a separate subject for the government. Indeed, Ukraine has over 28,000 rural settlements, where one third of population resides. Of course, development of these areas is not just an issue of agro-industrial complex. However, the government - in particular, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy - keeps working on this issue. For example, through development of agricultural cooperation and payment of budget subsidies to farmers," Prysyazhnyuk said.

Experts say that the main goal of the concept paper is to ensure required institutional, legal, and financial conditions for development of rural areas in the country. Its implementation will shift the focus of state policy to support of rural development, namely, improvement of living standards and economic well-being of people living in rural areas. 

At the same time, the document will create conditions for expanded reproduction of the appropriate pattern, thus ensuring the food security of the country under global division of labor. In the long term, implementation of this strategic document will help improve the living standards of rural residents on the basis of local development strategies at each rural settlement, government analysts say.