The second stage of the land market should be implemented from January 1, 2024, so as not to return to the ideas of emphythesis, additional lease agreements and the hidden market, said First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotsky.

At the same time, he emphasized that the position of the Ministry of Agricultural Policy on this issue remains unchanged.

“From the point of view of not returning to the ideas of emphythesis, additional lease agreements and the hidden land market, and now there is no more than 1.5% of the land in circulation, those who want to sell it (land plot) must be given the opportunity to do this officially. Our position remains unchanged,” he said at the Cooperation 360 farmers’ meeting in Kyiv.

According to the deputy minister, it is advisable to consider the land issue from the position that no one in Ukraine has any doubts as to who is allowed to buy land: exclusively individuals - citizens of Ukraine, as well as legal entities whose owners are citizens of Ukraine.

At the same time, according to Vysotsky, there are proposals in parliament from MPs who support the provision of 10,000 hectares enshrined in legislation. There are also bills that mention the area of land allowed for purchase as 100 hectares and 500 hectares.

The deputy minister also noted that the Ministry of Agrarian Policy did not submit any document to parliament for consideration. In the Verkhovna Rada there are only initiatives from MPs. Accordingly, the department does not actively participate in the land debate.

“From our position, if you look at the land market, then, in principle, it is small in terms of volumes - 1.5% that are sold. It does not need any large funds. As we said, it is a myth that Ukrainians will want to sell all their land tomorrow. This is not the case, no one is doing this. This is really a big, strong side of our nation - we understand the value of land," Vysotsky concluded.