Ukrainian farmers achieve high economic efficiency due to their deep knowledge of production and primary processing. Andriy Marushchak, the commercial director of Van Dijk Technics, a company specializing in solutions for the storage and processing of berries, fruits, and vegetables, highlighted this in a recent interview.
Some experts suggest dividing agribusiness into separate areas: cultivation and processing. However, Marushchak believes that Despite the war and rising costs, small farmers successfully can combine the cultivation and processing of vegetables.
Ukrainian farmers do not have access to cheap loans like their European counterparts. This limits their ability to purchase expensive and high-quality equipment. Small farmers are forced to rely on their funds, as available subsidies and grants do not cover equipment expenses.
Modern market conditions require farmers to transition to automation. Supermarkets have high demands for the calibration and packaging of products. Automatic packaging machines have become essential for small farmers who want to work with retail chains. Installing a packaging line is cheaper than hiring many workers, whose numbers in agriculture are dwindling.
For further market development, grant programs are necessary to purchase equipment for processing and primary treatment. Marushchak emphasized that such programs, implemented by international donors, need to be expanded to support Ukrainian farmers during the current economic challenges.
Source: seeds.org.ua