Yuriy Stepanchuk: inspired by family, team, and the company’s great results

Blitz interview with the Executive Director of the Western Cluster of Agro-Region Group Yuriy Stepanchuk.

You led the department after transitioning from the position of Chief Agronomist. Did you encounter any challenges adapting to the new position, or did nothing particularly change?

Yuriy Stepanchuk: I have been working at Agro-Region since 2008. Initially, it was in the agronomic field, and now I am the head of the department. If we talk about production processes, there wasn’t any adaptation, and overall, there were no difficulties. If we talk about communication with local authorities, there were some issues because of the ongoing decentralization process, and we were working in three districts of the Zhytomyr region and three districts of the Khmelnytsky region. This involved many settlements. During any transformations, misunderstandings arise, but over time, everything settled down.

How do you cooperate with shareholders, the local community? What comes easy, and what is challenging?

Yuriy Stepanchuk: Currently, Agro-Region leases agricultural land in four communities in the Zhytomyr region and two in the Khmelnytsky region. Before the full-scale war, we established partnership relations with both shareholders and local communities. We helped with various social issues and took an active part in infrastructure development. We planned to allocate voluntary payments for the development of local communities per hectare, but this project was postponed due to the war. Currently, we continue to meet the needs of communities to the extent of our capabilities. Regarding cooperation with shareholders, before the war, we always settled rent payments in the first half of the year, now, according to contracts, we settle until the end of the year. However, we are the most competitive in the region, and shareholders understand that.

How easy is it to cooperate within the Agro-Region structure regarding the coordination of certain decisions and supporting ideas that arise locally?

Yuriy Stepanchuk: Cooperation is extremely easy and straightforward. There is a coordinated team effort not only in supporting certain ideas but also in challenging situations where help, clarification, or just advice is needed. There is constant communication. During the high production season, we communicate a lot, and there are no difficulties.

What do you value most in people?

Yuriy Stepanchuk: Above all, honesty and perseverance, diligence, and discipline. These are the important components that I value most in people.

Who inspires you and why?

Yuriy Stepanchuk: My family and the team, as well as the great results of our company.