AgroInvest Quarterly Report October-December 2014

The project's objective is achieved by supporting a stable, market-oriented agricultural policy, stimulating access to financial services for small and medium producers, and facilitating a more effective market infrastructure for SMPs. The project's scope encompasses three main components: Component 1: Support a Stable, Market-Oriented Policy Environment; Component 2: Stimulate Access to Finance; and Component 3: Facilitate Market Infrastructure for Small and Medium Producers. Component 1 includes three tasks: Task 1-a: Accelerate Market-Oriented Reforms; Task 1-b: Strengthen Industry Associations; and Task 1-c: Public Education for Land Rights. From October to December 2014, the AgroInvest project marked several key accomplishments. The project prepared analysis and comments to the agricultural sector part of the Action Program of the Cabinet of Ministers for 2015 and submitted these documents to the Committee of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Policy and Land Issues. The project also provided assistance to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food in developing an Action Plan to implement the Cabinet of Ministers' Action Program for 2015 and parliamentary Agreement for 2015-2016. The project facilitated registration of two draft laws aimed at creating conditions for transforming subsidiary household farms into commercial family farms in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Additionally, the project prepared and disseminated a report, "Recommendations on Improving Ukraine's Poultry Industry Regulations." The project also conducted a study tour to Poland for Ukrainian government officials and national associations of credit unions, providing an opportunity for knowledge sharing and exposing participants to the Polish credit unions' experience transitioning to the European Union's regulatory framework. The project launched production facilities for agricultural service cooperatives that had received grant support from AgroInvest. The project also prepared and printed two manuals on implementing HACCP-based safety systems for small and medium-sized enterprises. Furthermore, the project organized a conference on "European and Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Markets: Challenges and Prospects" at Shuvar Market in Lviv, with the USAID Mission Director and local government officials in attendance. The project registered two draft laws developed by AgroInvest in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine: Draft Law No. 1599 "On Amending Selected Laws of Ukraine with Regard to Stimulating Establishment and Operations of Family Farms" and Draft Law No. 1600 "On Amending the Tax Code (with Regard to Stimulating Establishment and Operations of Family Farms)."