OREANDA-NEWS. “The development of rural areas and improvement of living conditions of the rural population is a priority for the agricultural sector of Ukraine. In this aspect studying of Polish experience in the development of rural territories is worth special attention and careful study”, Oleksii Pavlenko, the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine stressed.

In particular, the Minister notes that, as long back as in 1990, the European Fund for the Development of Polish Villages, a nongovernmental organization, was established with the goal of improving the technical infrastructure, the development of local entrepreneurship and the development of education and social sphere of rural territories.

Additionally, in 2014, the European Commission approved the Program of Rural Development of Poland for the period 2014-2020, stipulating the allocation of funds in the amount of EUR13.5 billion for the development of rural areas of the country. One third of this aid is planned for improving the efficiency and competitiveness of some 200,000 Polish farms, the creation of more than 22 000 jobs and 1 800 producer groups in the agricultural sector of Poland. 30% of the funding will be aimed at implementing eco-friendly business practices.

“The practice of Poland in the field of agriculture is a role model for us. Therefore, now there is an active discussion of the principles of the European Fund for the Development of Polish Villages and a possibility to create a similar organization in Ukraine. We strive to reach the level of modernization and technification of farms as Poland achieved. For this reason, Polish farmers began manufacturing products competitive both in the domestic and the European markets”, the Minister stressed.

“Additionally, in order to develop rural areas, the Ministry of Agrarian Policy of Ukraine in cooperation with members of Parliament, executive bodies, civil society organizations and international experts, has shaped the Concept for Rural Territories Development in Ukraine, along with the Unified Comprehensive Strategy for Agriculture and Rural Development in Ukraine 2015-2020”, Oleksii Pavlenko noted.