Ukrainian Premier Mykola Azarov has demanded that the Agricultural Policy and Food Ministry to intervene in the situation with the delay of the issue of grain quality certificates to farmers.
"I draw the attention of the [agricultural policy and food] minister to this: farmers are complaining to me that they cannot get official results from the laboratories of the state agricultural inspectorate on the quality of grain of the new harvest," he said, opening a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
He said that farmers cannot obtain quality certificates, as the laboratories were not accredited on time.
"It tuned out that officials have been so carried away with the organization that they forget to take care about the accreditation of the labs on time. The issue should be solved urgently. Farmers are to obtain a unbiased assessment of grain quality without red tape and extra expenses," the premier said.
He also said that applications for compensation for losses from damage to winter crops worth UAH 26 million were obtained from farmers, while the government has allocated UAH 300 million for the purpose.
"It turned out that as soon as farmers obtain compensation, they at once become subject to checks by various supervision and low-enforcement bodies. They spend their precious time on various checks and agreements," Azarov said.
He believes that thus, officials discredit the state aid system.
"I draw the attention of ministers, heads of fiscal, supervision and law-enforcement bodies that they are to intervene only in those cases where there are justifiable signs of abuses, and not in any case. Otherwise, this will be considered as abuse of power and certain conclusions will be made," the prime minister said.
"I demand that all officials, whom it may concern, not distract farmers with red tape. Farmers are to obtain all of the required compensation, and that's it," he added.
