OREANDA-NEWS. February 13, 2013. Ukraine in 2013 may reduce pork imports by 40%, while in the structure of consumption the share of imported meat and meat products in Ukraine will decline from 17% to 7%. The increase in domestic meat production will occur as owning the introduction of new technologies, the modernization of existing facilities and the construction of new plants. This was announced by the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Prysyazhnyuk.

Thus, in accordance with the State program of revitalization of the economy for 2013-2014 it is provided to build and reconstruct 153 livestock breeding complexes. In addition, in 2013 the state will support individual farmers and owners of family farms to increase pork production and increase its marketability.

"As of today, Ukrainians eat 90% of food produced in Ukraine. This is a very high figure. Today we import only exotic vegetables, fruits, fish and a certain quantity of poultry and pork. And this year, we will be able to reduce pork imports by 40%," Mykola Prysyazhnyuk noted.

He noted that the implementation of such a task is provided and in the State Program of revitalization of the economy for 2013-2014 years, and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food will be one of the performers of this task.

"It is extremely important question remains to encourage farmers to build, reconstruct and modernize livestock complexes. So in 2013, we will send the funds in such a way as to motivate farmers to build new farms," the Minister said.

In addition, this year the government will encourage livestock production by farms of the population, the government also will continue providing significant state support to individual farmers, in particular for the keeping of young cattle.

All this will provide an increase in livestock production, will help create new jobs in rural areas, and give the opportunity to develop rural infrastructure and improve social services.

"Existing and new forms of support for owners of family farms will encourage them to increase livestock production, in particular quality pork and increase its marketability," Mykola Prysyazhnyuk said.