The Ministry of Agrarian Policy is working on the implementation of a national network of vegetable storage facilities aimed at addressing the issue of losing more than a third of the vegetable harvest. Currently, about 35% of the produced goods do not reach the consumer due to the insufficient number of modern storage facilities and inadequate storage conditions.
This is reported by Finway
Shortage of Vegetable Storage Facilities and Its Impact on the Agricultural Sector
As a result of the hostilities in Ukraine, a significant number of vegetable storage facilities have been destroyed, and the capacity for simultaneous storage has decreased by over 281,000 tons. The total shortage of relevant facilities currently exceeds 1.1 million tons. Addressing this issue is critically important for supporting the domestic agricultural sector.
Advantages of Creating a Modern Storage Network
Vegetable storage facilities are not just warehouses for storing products. Their establishment will allow farmers to preserve the harvest and sell it at a better price. Additionally, a developed infrastructure will help curb inflation, support local farmers, create new jobs, fill the budget through taxes, and serve as a step towards import substitution and the development of exports of value-added products.
“We are moving towards a model of an agro-industrial country, where it is processed products, not raw materials, that create economic value. For comparison: 1 hectare of land in Ukraine brings in an average of €1,000 in export revenue, while in Denmark, for example, it is €15,000. Our task is to close this gap,” emphasized Minister of Agrarian Policy Vitaliy Koval.
A systematic approach to developing the infrastructure for vegetable storage will not only preserve the harvest but also significantly strengthen Ukraine’s position in the global agricultural market.