Ukraine update
EU actions to mitigate market disturbance & ensure food security
The EU Commission has now published a communication on food security in light of the Ukraine crisis. The communication confirmed that the EU will allow Member States to access the €500 million Crisis Reserve to support agricultural production which can be topped up by national funds to make a total possible aid package of €1.5bn. They have also introduced a temporary state aid framework, derogations for certain greening obligations and relaxations on certain import standards.
Former Ukrainian Agrarian Policy Minister Leshchenko outlines precise fuel & seed needs
The former Ukrainian Agrarian Minister Roman Leshchenko followed up on his March 22 exchange with the European Parliament’s Agricultural Committee with a letter outlining Ukraine’s need for vegetable seeds and fuel. Ukrainian agriculture’s fuel needs were estimated at 211 000 tonnes, to cover the spring-summer period this is working on the basis that a “significant part of the territory will not be available for the sowing campaign.” Leschchenko also called for assistance with rail wagons to export crops and reduced controls for shipments to the EU. Urgent requests were also made for cabbage, beetroot, carrot, tomato, cucumber and onion seeds.
Pigmeat private storage aid scheme launched
The Commission has set up a Private Storage Aid Scheme for pigmeat. The aid is fixed in advance and determined according to the type of cut. Applications for aid are open until the 29 April 2022.
Ireland unveils €12mn crop-growing scheme
A targeted intervention package for the tillage sector and a multi-species sward initiative, worth over €12 million to support Irish farmers, has been announced by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Charlie McConalogue. The Irish Government will pay €400 per hectare to encourage farmers to plant additional barley, wheat and oats.
FAO policy recommendations
The FAO have issued a set of policy recommendations in response to the G7 group of countries, which on Friday issued a declaration pledging to help Ukraine. The FAO have particularly urged countries not to overlook the risk which is posed by the spread of animal diseases in Ukraine, in particular African Swine Fever. It called upon other countries to help to keep track of and tackle the spread of ASF.
