Relevant Draft Resolution is under consideration in the Committee on Agricultural Policy and Land Relations.
The Draft Resolution (Reg. No. 1020) commissions the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to submit the proposal concerning establishment of the Ministry of Agricultural Engineering based on relevant sub-divisions of the Ministry of Industrial Policy of Ukraine to The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine within a month, and to restore work of the State Committee of Ukraine on Land Resources, eliminating the State Agency on Land Resources, and to make the State Committee on Land Resources subordinate to the Ministry of Agricultural Policy.
The People´s Deputy, Olexandr Tkachenko, the author of the Bill, dwelled on the negative condition of technical supply of agricultural sector that has originated in Ukraine for 16 years. He believes that the value of available technical equipment of agricultural enterprises does not exceed 11 billion Hryvnias, while the technological need constitutes 220 billion Hryvnias.
The size of available machine and tractor fleet of agricultural enterprises reduced in two times against Year 1990 and fails to meet the technological requirements. The rate of machine and tractor fleet depreciation reached a critical limit, and 80-95% of available machines are exploited beyond the depreciation terms.
The People´s Deputy also states that current situation testifies that preference is given to the purchase of foreign equipment, though 70 per cent of it was already in use. For the last 6 years the load of one available combine has increased from 202 ha to 250 ha (on 24%), without taking into consideration machinery in a good working order.
O.Tkachenko also provides an example that Ukraine has 5 combines for 1000 ha of grain crops, the USA - 15, Great Britain - 14, France - 16, Denmark - 21.
Thus, at present, agricultural sector of Ukraine is supplied with machinery only for 45-65% of the need, and the biggest part of equipment fails to meet modern requirements.
The author believes that adoption of the Draft Resolution requires inconsiderable extra funding that is to be envisaged in the State Budget of Ukraine.
Adoption of the Draft Resolution will provide design and manufacture of machines and equipment for agricultural sector, processing and food industry by the National enterprises, settlement of land issues, preserving land resources for the future generations.