February 7 2008, 15:52

Entrance to WTO let Ukrainian fruit & vegetable producers strengthen position on the inner and external markets

What will be the consequences of Ukraine's entrance to WTO for fruit & vegetable industry? This was the question of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" weekly to the market players, and they shared various opinions.

Negative results are mostly forecasted by small enterprises with out-of-date production technology which are still oriented on the inner market exclusively. Many small farms fear that the increased assortment of fruits and vegetables of better quality from the other countries will be a real threat of bankruptcy for them.

Nevertheless, most market players think, that the entrance of our country to WTO will have rather positive than negative effect. To their opinion, this fact will be primarily a perfect stimulus for a more dynamic development of the industry in general. At first the producers and processors will have to make a lot of efforts to increase the production efficiency, however, in future they will be able to consolidate their positions on both inner and global markets. The steadily increasing demand for fruits & vegetables in Ukraine and in the world in general will also support them in this case. Also, the supply of quality seeds, transplants, fertilizers and machinery from the other countries will be simplified, so that the production will become more rational and profitable. The entrance to WTO will benefit the buyers too; thanks to the easier trade regime with the other countries the assortment of quality fruits and vegetables will be significantly extended on the inner market.