The Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Vitalii Koval, held another meeting with representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister Oksana Osmachko, FAO Regional Programme Leader for Europe and Central Asia Raimund Jehle, and Acting Head of the FAO Office in Ukraine Mohammed Azuka.
The parties discussed the current state of cooperation with FAO and outlined key priorities for FAO’s activities.
Vitalii Koval expressed gratitude to FAO representatives for their continued support of Ukraine’s agri-food sector, particularly for providing grain storage bags, modular grain warehouses, and generators.
The minister emphasized the importance of continued support for Ukrainian farmers. According to him, the next phase of assistance is beginning, which includes the joint FAO project on electricity generation from agrobiomass. Additionally, support for the development of vegetable storage systems is currently highly relevant.
"The development of a vegetable storage system will contribute to the growth of small businesses and the sustainability of rural areas. That is why we are now actively launching a project for the construction of vegetable storage facilities. Small storage units, ranging from 20 to 1,000 tons, would help farmers preserve their produce and hold it for better pricing. Large facilities, from 2,000 tons and above, could be used by both farmers and companies that procure food for universities, hospitals, and supermarkets. This approach would enable the creation of the first farmer cooperative," said Vitalii Koval.
The minister noted that decentralizing the system of small vegetable storage facilities in frontline regions—particularly Mykolaiv and Kherson—will help farmers preserve their harvests.
