FAO Supports Ukraine with Two Plans Worth 150 Million Dollars for Agricultural Sector Recovery
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has announced the launch of a two-year Emergency Response and Early Recovery Plan for Ukraine for 2025–2026. This initiative aims to support over half a million vulnerable rural residents in Ukraine, help restore agricultural production, protect livelihoods, and strengthen the long-term resilience of the agricultural sector in the country.
This is reported by AgroReview
According to Mohamed Azouki, the acting head of the FAO office in Ukraine, “this plan has been created in a context where Ukrainian farmers are still facing numerous challenges — from minefields and destroyed infrastructure to limited access to markets.” He added that the FAO continues to support Ukraine’s efforts to overcome the consequences of the war, particularly in rural areas near the front line. The organization is committed to enhancing the resilience of the agricultural sector and ensuring long-term food security in Ukraine and beyond.
Overall Agricultural Sector Losses and Recovery Measures
According to the fourth rapid damage and needs assessment conducted by the World Bank, total losses in the Ukrainian agricultural sector amount to nearly 84 billion US dollars, including an additional 1.6 billion dollars in the irrigation sector. The damages include the destruction of warehouses, fish farms, aquaculture systems, and perennial crops, as well as forced culling of livestock. Additionally, agricultural machinery, equipment, and means of production have been damaged or stolen. Meanwhile, Ukraine is grappling with one of the largest landmine crises in the world: as of December 2024, over 138,000 square kilometers of land and 14,000 square kilometers of water bodies remain potentially contaminated with explosive remnants of war, posing a serious threat to agricultural activities and food security.
The Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Vitaliy Koval, emphasized: “Despite all these challenges, Ukrainian farmers are demonstrating incredible resilience and spirit. We are grateful to the FAO for their support — from emergency assistance to long-term planning. Together, we are investing in the future of rural families and food systems in Ukraine so they can recover and become even stronger.”
Goals and Components of the Recovery Plan
The FAO plans to spend 150 million US dollars over two years to implement its plans. The main activities encompass three interrelated components:
- Primary Emergency Response — providing agricultural resources to support the most vulnerable rural families and small farmers affected by the war. This includes supplying essential materials and technical assistance for the rapid recovery of production.
- Land Recovery — working on the clearance and restoration of agricultural land contaminated by unexploded ordnance and mines, especially in frontline regions.
- Perennial Early Recovery — supporting farmers and rural enterprises by providing up-to-date information, resources, and technical assistance to strengthen their production and entrepreneurial potential, increase yields, and improve market access.
All these measures will be implemented with ongoing monitoring and evaluation of their effectiveness. This will allow for a rapid response to urgent needs and ensure the sustainable development of Ukraine’s agricultural sector.
To implement the plan, the FAO requires support of 150 million US dollars. The organization calls on international partners to join in the recovery and strengthening of the long-term resilience of the Ukrainian agri-food sector in collaboration with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and local authorities.