Ukrainian president calls for efforts to tap agriculture potential

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Thursday called for joint efforts from local governments and business communities to tap the potential of the country's agriculture sector. "I am convinced that the agro-industrial complex will become a 'growth point' and one of the leading sectors of the national economy, which will provide Ukraine with a competitive advantage in the global market," Yanukovych said during his visit to central Kirovograd region. He said Ukraine has the potential not only to ensure its own food security, but also to become a breadbasket for the rest of the world through the development of modern agriculture. The president stressed the need to undertake reforms in the sector aiming at stimulating large-scale farming and encouraging investment for agriculture infrastructure. Yanukovych also called on officials to speed up their work in promoting Ukrainian agricultural commodities on the global market. Domestic experts believe that meat, dairy and grain industry as well as horticulture and biofuels production are the most promising parts of Ukraine's farm sector. In 2012, Ukraine increased its agricultural output to 27.6 billion U.S. dollars. Enditem