By preliminary estimates, the losses from drought in Ukraine have made up 210 million hryvnias. Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for agricultural issues Victor Slauta said this in an interview to “Delo” daily #128 (418) dated July 31, 2007.
“We carried out a monitoring of ten regions of Ukraine. The most difficult situation was recorded in three of them – the Odessa, Mykolaiv and Kherson Oblasts. The early and late cereal crops – corn, sunflower, millet, and pea, were partially saved in the Southern and Eastern regions, but in these three Oblasts everything withered. Now the losses are being calculated. According to the preliminary data, they makes up around 210 million hryvnias”, he said. At the same time, according to the words of V. Slauta, more than 120 million hryvnias of the material aid were channeled to the sectors.
V. Slauta explained that that the first aid tranche has already been funneled, now the documentation for the second one is being worked out. Moreover, seeds from stocks are given free to the drought-stricken areas. Also they introduced a state remuneration of the double rate of credit. “Previously we reimbursed 8% from the budget, but now - 16%”, added the Vice Prime Minister.
