Сельское хозяйство

As of March 10, 2009, Ukrainian banks have prolonged a total UAH 2 bln (USD 259.7 mln) or 50% of existing loans to agrarians, as stated by the Minister of Agriculture Yuriy Melnik.

According to Yuriy Melnik, the Minister of Agriculture, Ukraine will harvest 18-20 mln mt of winter wheat in 2009.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is currently considering the possibility of providing a loan of USD 50 mln to Ukraine via the company NCH New Europe Property Fund L.P..

The Verkhovna Rada, the Parliament of Ukraine, has overturned President Viktor Yuschenko‘s veto on prolonging the restriction on land trading in Ukraine. A total 382 of deputies voted on the extension of the Moratorium until January 1, 2010.

Ukraine’s grain exports reached 16 mln mt in the first eight months of the 2008/09 marketing year.

The total volume of sunflower seed exports in February 2009 is going to reach its record level in five months. According to Ukroliya, sunflower seed exports in February will expand to 200 thsd mt, which is 23.5% more than total exports for the last five months of the 2008/09 marketing year.

MCB Agricole [4GW1 GR, N/R], an Ukrainian agricultural producer with a land bank under lease of 100 thsd ha, has announced that it is going to reconsider its land bank.

The Ministry of Agriculture has officially stated that USD 0.2 bln in financing will be allocated for loans to agrarians that are prolonged by Ukrainian financial institutions.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has established the procedure for VAT compensation for grain traders, in order to reimburse its debts on VAT.

Kernel [KER PW, BUY], a Ukrainian bulk oil and grain trader, released its financial results for 2Q08/09 last Friday. The company’s financial year ends in June.