These stations included the one at Chernobyl', where there was a disastrous accident in 1986. The principal manufactures include iron and steel, heavy machinery, chemicals, transportation equipment, textiles, and processed food. Agriculture accounts for about 30 percent of total NMP and one-fourth of total employment. Ukraine is a major producer and exporter of a wide variety of agricultural products, including wheat and sugar beets. Other crops include potatoes, vegetables, fruit, sunflowers, and flax.
Livestock raising is also important.
Agricultural production has suffered greatly since independence, however, and domestic food consumption has decreased. NMP declined by about 30 percent in 1992-one of the sharpest drops among the former Soviet republics. After considerable delay, the process of economic reform began in Ukraine. Prices on food, transportation, and other services were deregulated in January 1993, although food prices remained low in comparison to prices in neighboring countries. The government issued privatization certificates and set up the western city of L'viv as a model for future privatization.