Training “Main principles of sustainable development of small farming: EU experience for Ukraine” within the framework of the Erasmus+ project (31.10-01.11, 2024, online)
Over two days, October 31 – November 1, 2024, at Zaporizhzhia National University, a training session titled “Main principles of sustainable development of small farming: EU experience for Ukraine” was held within the framework of the project “European integration and sustainable development of rural areas of Ukraine as a guarantee of ensuring food security in the conditions of post-war recovery” (NEWAGRO), under the EU Erasmus+ Jean Monnet Program (101127828 — NEWAGRO — ERASMUS-JMO-2023-HEI-TCH-RSCH).
The training was organised by the NEWAGRO team in collaboration with representatives of the National Erasmus+ office in Ukraine, the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration, the Zaporizhzhia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Zaporizhzhia Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs “Potential”, the German-Ukrainian Agro-Political Dialogue (APD), business, and teaching staff of the National Scientific Center “Institute of Agrarian Economics” and Podillia State University, the Charitable Foundation”STABILIZATION SUPPORT SERVICES”, “ZAPORIZHZHIA LEGAL ALLIANCE”, the Charitable Foundation “YaroslavKo”.
Among the more than 60 interested participants in the training were business owners in rural areas, representatives of territorial communities, public organisations, women farmers, military personnel and their family members interested in farming, as well as representatives of Ukrainian and foreign educational and research institutions, and students from various parts of Ukraine, including regions – Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Zaporizhzhia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson, and the city of Kyiv.
The training was opened by Professor Svitlana KUSHNIR, head of the Department of Finance, Banking, Insurance, and the Stock Market of Zaporizhzhia National University and coordinator of the NEWAGRO project. Opening remarks were also delivered by the First Vice-Rector of Zaporizhzhia National University, Oleksandr BONDAR, and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Economics, Valentyna HELMAN.
Valuable and up-to-date insights on the state of the agricultural sector, support programs, and the challenges and development prospects for businesses in the Zaporizhzhia region were shared by Oleksandr YASYNETSKYI, Head of the Department of Crop and Rural Development at the Department of Agrarian Development; Arthur BOIKO, Head of the Department of External Relations and Foreign Economic Activity; and Dmytro ANTONYUK, Vice President of the Zaporizhzhia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Doctor of Economics, Professor, and Academician of the Academy of Economic Sciences of Ukraine.
Current issues and examples from judicial practice regarding legal aspects of land relations and the organisation of farming were discussed by lawyer Dmytro MAYSTRO, Head of the Zaporizhzhia Branch of the Ukrainian Bar Association; Yurii BREDIKHIN, Judge of the Leninsky District Court of Zaporizhzhia; and Mykyta PANCHENKO, Legal Protection Advisor, Lawyer, and Coordinator for Legal Consultations HOMGO “Educated Initiative”.
The event also featured engaging presentations by project expert Svitlana PAVLENKO from the German-Ukrainian Agri-Political Dialogue (APD); Galyna STUDINSKA, Doctor of Economics and Senior Researcher in the Department of Scientific Research Organization and Innovative Development at the NSC “Institute of Agrarian Economics”; and Lyudmyla VILCHYNSKA, Associate Professor of the Department of Crop Production, Selection, and Seed Production at Podilskyi State University.
One of the most interesting and sincere were the speeches of business representatives – owner of the brand “Lavandochka”, agricultural advisor, member of the Business Association “4Business” Svitlana GANNOCHKA, grant project manager of the farm and rehabilitation centre “Zelenyi Gai” Violetta GURKUSH, deputy of the Kyriliv settlement council, Head of the NGO “Center for the Development of Voluntary and Public Initiatives “Atmanay” Galina KARABUT.
Urgent issues of bank financing of small and medium-sized businesses in rural areas and problematic aspects of taxation of agricultural commodity producers during the war were revealed by Vitaly PLYAS, deputy director of the South-Eastern macro-region of JSC “Privatbank” and highlighted by an associate professor of the Department of Accounting and Taxation of Zaporizhzhia National University, Doctor of Economics, head accountant LLC “Bakai-Agro”, PE “Agrofirma “Synergia Organic”, LLC “VIK SAN OIL”, AGRIANALITYCA expert Victoria HRYN.
Lively discussions, many questions to the speakers from the participants of the training, and a large audience of listeners during two days, showed the increased interest of the audience in the raised topics of the training. The opportunity to communicate and find answers to your questions became possible thanks to the combination of speakers from government bodies, public organisations, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, business, scientists, and interested youth on one platform.
Details about the event and speakers’ presentations are available via the link.
Prepared using the materials of the Zaporizhzhia National University.