Experts warn of significant economic risks for Ukraine’s agricultural sector in the event of an immediate ban on a number of active substances in plant protection products according to European Union standards. Analysis shows that of the total agricultural land area in the country, which is 24.5 million hectares, approximately 10 million hectares may become unprofitable or lose their yield levels.
This is reported by Business • Media
Scale of Potential Losses for Farmers
According to estimates, annual crop losses could reach 14 million tons. In monetary terms, this translates to over $4.3 billion in potential losses for the Ukrainian economy. This could particularly impact exports: wheat and sunflower oil supplies could decrease by 34%, while rapeseed exports could drop by 22%.
Researchers believe that the risks of an immediate ban on active substances in plant protection products, as required by EU standards, are significantly underestimated. Specifically, of the 24.5 million hectares of agricultural land in Ukraine, about 10 million hectares are at risk of becoming unprofitable or losing yield. Crop losses could amount to up to 14 million tons annually. At the same time, economic losses could exceed $4.3 billion. In particular, wheat and sunflower oil exports could fall by 34%, and rapeseed by 22%.
The Need for a Gradual Transition
EU legislation allows the use of only those plant protection products that are officially approved within the European Union. Meanwhile, Ukrainian farmers currently use a broader range of substances that will need to be banned before joining the EU. For Ukraine’s agricultural sector, this is one of the most serious challenges, as no EU country has implemented such restrictions all at once — in all cases, the transition has occurred gradually. Industry associations indicate that the adaptation period should last about 10 years after EU membership to avoid a sharp decline in yields and economic losses.