The agricultural sector of Ukraine which generates more than a third of foreign exchange revenues of the country should be gradually replaced from exporting raw materials to the model based on development of own production and on creation of value added within the country. This was stated by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman during a visit to the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. The Prime Minister attended the ceremony of the opening of a new academic building and congratulated the teachers and students on the occasion of the 119th anniversary of the institution.

“We have to demonstrate a joint work in order for Ukraine to hold a distinguished place – in Europe and in the world. Our country should become economically strong and agricultural sector plays a significant role in this regard. Moreover, the agro sector possesses opportunities that have never been used before. Last year we collected more than 66 million tons of harvest. This is very good, but the task – to replace economy dependent on raw materials to that basing on creation of value added. In this context, without investment in science, without innovation - is difficult to achieve and retain leadership, "underlined Volodymyr Groysman.

Moreover, he emphasized that the Government had already been engaged in shaping support programs for agricultural sector as well as in implementation of it. "In 2017 we launched the first program of agricultural development and budgeted a sum worth UAH 550 million for strengthening of agricultural engineering. In 2018 this figure will be increased by 50%, "summed up the Prime Minister.