unions in self-regulation mode; the existence of a significant number of credit unions,
which in their activities do not adhere to the basic principles of the international
cooperative movement and requirements for the protection of the rights of their
members; unresolved issues of supervisory and control over the activities of credit
unions.
One of the most acute problems is lending in the countryside. There are no reliable
laws on privatization, sale and purchase of land. Farmers, small agricultural enterprises
have no opportunity to put land on bail and get loans for development. And
unfortunately, those unions that exist in villages do not have enough capital. We have
a closed circle - small rural unions do not have the means to develop. In addition, it is
necessary to educate farmers how to keep an accountancy, make business plans, and
diversify. Since 2011, credit unions have begun to increase the volume of agri-
crediting. The bank loans in the presence of mortgaged property and it is desirable that
its value by 200-250% exceeds the amount of the loan. Credit unions in relation to their
clients demonstrate a much loyal policy. 80% of their loans they provide bail, and only
20% - on bail. Moreover, even the livestock can be a pledge. Consequently, credit
unions could develop further in this direction, but there are certain restraining
moments. In particular, they can still lend to farmers as individuals, but do not have
the right to lend to farms as legal entities. For a long time, this issue is not resolved at
the legislative level.
To date, about 40 thousand farms are registered in Ukraine. This figure remains
unchanged over the last few years. Experts say that farms in their present form, which
are essentially agricultural enterprises with a large number of employees, have already
exhausted their resources, and therefore it makes no sense to hope for their quantitative
increase. In the meantime, the number of farms may increase significantly in the near
future if the conditions for the establishment of family-owned farms will be established
by law. It is expected that such farms will soon be 400-700 thousand in Ukraine. But
this will happen after the Verkhovna Rada passed the Law no. 1599 "On Amendments
to Some Laws of Ukraine on Promoting the Establishment and Activity of Family
Farms". Family farms can become a serious client base for credit unions.
In villages, it is necessary to continue to stimulate activity mobility and the desire
to develop business. But this is possible if this business has a permanent lending.
Therefore, the role of credit unions in this case, which goes beyond purely economic,
remains very important.
The main vectors of the activity of credit unions in the field of agri-crediting in
the present conditions are: organization of a network of rural lending, counseling and
informational support of village residents, lending to the infrastructure of agricultural
production services, ensuring the growth of agro-technologies through support and
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