Over 50% of the funds available under the program on refunding credit rates for farmers worth UAH 300 million had been used as of the middle of November 2015, the Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry has reported.

"Over 50% [of the funds] have been used – under the program worth UAH 300 million. Western Ukraine used the largest sum, and Kharkiv and eastern regions used the smallest sums," First Deputy Agricultural Policy and Food Minister of Ukraine Yaroslav Krasnopolsky said at a press conference in Kyiv on Wednesday.

He said that UAH 250 million under the program to breed cattle was not used due to red tape procedures on the distribution of funds.

"The use of funds in cattle breeding did not start as the resolution was issued only a month ago. Commissions that will accept applications from farmers who bought cattle have been created in the regions. The funds are provided after cattle are bought," he said.

The ministry now wants to redistribute the unused funds between the regions under the program to compensate credit rates.

"Two months ago we sent requests to directors of departments in regional administrations which failed to use the funds with the purpose of redistributing them later. We will receive this information as of November 15 and we will be able to redistribute them," he said.

He added that Ternopil and Rivne regions expressed a desire to use additional funds under the program.