Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has discussed the issue of the introduction of the farmland market and the land reform with representatives of the agricultural sector, adding that proposals of farmers are important for implementing the effective reform.

"The head of state noted that he was ready to listen to the positions of those present on the land reform. He expressed the conviction that it is important not only to study the experience of other countries, but also to listen to the views of those working on the land," the press service of the president reported after the meeting held on Wednesday.

Participants of the meeting spoke about their misgivings and caveats about how the situation will develop after the opening of the land market in Ukraine. In particular, they discussed the phased introduction of the land market, when the first stage of the right to acquire land will be provided exclusively Ukrainians, and foreigners will get this opportunity only in the last stage of reform.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Bohdan expressed the opinion that legalization of farmland would provide an impetus for attracting additional international investment in the agricultural sector.

"For large factories to be built here that will process products and where thousands of workers will work, and for you to sell value-added products, to do this, [we need to] bring foreigners here and build these plants – this means to give them an opportunity of owning this land in a certain form," he said, noting that the form of such ownership will still be discussed.

The need for affordable loans to small and medium-sized farms, the need to avoid monopolization of the market of farmland, the issue of the acreage of land that an individual or farm will have the opportunity to purchase was separately discussed. In addition, the importance of adopting anti-raiding legislation was pointed out.

Zelensky said at the end of the meeting that he had taken into account all points of view.

The meeting was held under the initiative of agrarians – representatives of Ukrainian agricultural non-governmental organizations, industry associations, farm enterprises from different regions of Ukraine, small and large agricultural enterprises. The meeting was also attended by Prime Minister of Ukraine Oleksiy Honcharuk, Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture of Ukraine Tymofiy Mylovanov, Presidential Commissioner for Land Affairs Roman Leshchenko, and Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Bohdan.