Yields in Ukraine’s dairy and arable sectors have ensured food security, government ministers have confirmed.

An “agrarian fund” of one million tons of grain has been announced, alongside a national milk production tally of 7.4 million tonnes. Grain produced in 2015 going into the State Food and Grain Corporation of Ukraine totalled 1.838 million tonnes, for both grains and oilseeds.

Dairy production, while decreasing, has been spared by productivity gains of 258 litres per cow for this season on the last.

Agrarian policy spokesperson Mykola Kvasha said average cow yield was down to ‘intensive technologies’, which had supported dairy foods security through herd contraction. Overall, national milk production contracted 4.6 per cent.

“Despite the challenges, market trends are positive,” said Mr Kvasha. “We import little, we have completely met our own production demand.” He added that new markets were opening up, substituting for lost trade with Russia.

“Along with traditional markets we are seeing African countries demand condensed milk. So, major losses from the closure of the Russian market will recover.”