Interesting facts about the Ukraine

Werzle

Member
Location
Midlands
I spent quite a lot of time there about 20 years ago and met one of their presidents socially. IMHO, their main problem is that they never really set in place an effective government, and mafia types were allowed to take hold. I knew a Lufthansa cargo agent at Odessa who told the story of "government customs officers" who had to "Buy" their jobs and would be fired if they didn't produce a high figure of revenue through duties and fines of which most was passed up the line to their superiors. Lots of farmers from Germany and the US went there to try to make their fortunes but many lost their shirts through the level of corruption in both government and business. A few days ago a Polish diplomat/politician was interviewed on the TV. He said that both Ukraine and Poland started out at the same level when USSR collapsed 25 years ago. Now despite being a smaller country with 1/3rd less people, due to reasonably competent government - thanks to Lech Walesa - the GDP of Poland is now 3x that of Ukraine.
Tbf the GDP of poland has had a massive lift from money earnt and sent home from poles working here. Corruption is a cancer but in lots of foreign countries bribes are factored in when prices are paid for things
 

Danllan

Member
Location
Sir Gar / Carms
I spent quite a lot of time there about 20 years ago and met one of their presidents socially. IMHO, their main problem is that they never really set in place an effective government, and mafia types were allowed to take hold. I knew a Lufthansa cargo agent at Odessa who told the story of "government customs officers" who had to "Buy" their jobs and would be fired if they didn't produce a high figure of revenue through duties and fines of which most was passed up the line to their superiors. Lots of farmers from Germany and the US went there to try to make their fortunes but many lost their shirts through the level of corruption in both government and business. A few days ago a Polish diplomat/politician was interviewed on the TV. He said that both Ukraine and Poland started out at the same level when USSR collapsed 25 years ago. Now despite being a smaller country with 1/3rd less people, due to reasonably competent government - thanks to Lech Walesa - the GDP of Poland is now 3x that of Ukraine.
Poland's population is 38m, Ukraine's is 41m, that's less than a 10% difference, plus far more money was pumped into Poland, and far more Poles went abroad - funneling even more cash into the country.

However, I agree with the bit about Walesa, generally if people are given and - most importantly - made used to what we would regard as normal standards, in re rule of law, lack of corruption etc., they will defend it.
 

roscoe erf

Member
Livestock Farmer
the women arn't bad either https://ladadate.com/blog-interested-in-ukrainian-women

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Hindsight

Member
Location
Lincolnshire
I spent quite a lot of time there about 20 years ago and met one of their presidents socially. IMHO, their main problem is that they never really set in place an effective government, and mafia types were allowed to take hold. I knew a Lufthansa cargo agent at Odessa who told the story of "government customs officers" who had to "Buy" their jobs and would be fired if they didn't produce a high figure of revenue through duties and fines of which most was passed up the line to their superiors. Lots of farmers from Germany and the US went there to try to make their fortunes but many lost their shirts through the level of corruption in both government and business. A few days ago a Polish diplomat/politician was interviewed on the TV. He said that both Ukraine and Poland started out at the same level when USSR collapsed 25 years ago. Now despite being a smaller country with 1/3rd less people, due to reasonably competent government - thanks to Lech Walesa - the GDP of Poland is now 3x that of Ukraine.
Poland had benefit of being adjacent to Germany and also since 2004 a member of the EU. makes a difference i would suggest.
 

glasshouse

Member
Location
lothians
I spent quite a lot of time there about 20 years ago and met one of their presidents socially. IMHO, their main problem is that they never really set in place an effective government, and mafia types were allowed to take hold. I knew a Lufthansa cargo agent at Odessa who told the story of "government customs officers" who had to "Buy" their jobs and would be fired if they didn't produce a high figure of revenue through duties and fines of which most was passed up the line to their superiors. Lots of farmers from Germany and the US went there to try to make their fortunes but many lost their shirts through the level of corruption in both government and business. A few days ago a Polish diplomat/politician was interviewed on the TV. He said that both Ukraine and Poland started out at the same level when USSR collapsed 25 years ago. Now despite being a smaller country with 1/3rd less people, due to reasonably competent government - thanks to Lech Walesa - the GDP of Poland is now 3x that of Ukraine.
Poland joined eu and got £££££
 

Enry

Member
Location
Shropshire
Crumbs and I thought Mr Putin and all world leaders sought the good counsel of the TFF collective before making any decision.
If he came on here and asked “shall I invade the Ukraine” some would yes definitely, some would say no, dont bother, someone would say how about invading New Zealand imstead? Someone would say I know someone who invaded Ukraine and it wasnt up to much, and someone would say why not invade Finland - they make Valtra tractors there and they never break down😜
 

yellowbelly

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
N.Lincs
If he came on here and asked “shall I invade the Ukraine” some would yes definitely, some would say no, dont bother, someone would say how about invading New Zealand imstead? Someone would say I know someone who invaded Ukraine and it wasnt up to much, and someone would say why not invade Finland - they make Valtra tractors there and they never break down😜
You forgot to mention all the advice he would get on what pick ups he should should use too ......
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Pennine Ploughing

Member
Mixed Farmer
I googled it last night, and found it had some of the most fertile land on the earth,
It grew about 30 million tonnes of grain in 2018, yet the average yield across the country was 4.6 tonnes per hectare, did make me wonder why,,, as that's less than 2 tonnes an acre
Will This be due to poor farmers not being able to buy fertiliser due to being a poor nation money wise,
Also see foreigners can not buy land at all, only Ukraine nationals can,
Of and some of there women are gorgeous 😍
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 80 42.1%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 67 35.3%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 15.8%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 7 3.7%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,294
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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