Sowing the Future in Ukraine
Despite Russia’s aggression, brave Ukrainian farmers continue to grow grain to feed the world
It’s spring in Ukraine, and that means it’s sowing season for the thousands of farmers across the country who grow the grains that play a key role in global food security.
More than two years of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine could have devastated the country’s agricultural sector — from landmines in farm land to high prices for seeds and fertilizers, damaged and destroyed export routes, and targeted attacks on key grain storage facilities.
But with USAID support, Ukraine’s farmers keep going — sowing, harvesting, storing, and exporting valuable grain that feeds the world. Meet three of the brave farmers who are out in their fields this spring, sowing the future despite Russia’s continued aggression.
Yuliia and Oleksandr, Dnipropetrovsk region
Five years ago, Yuliia and Oleksandr settled in a village in Dnipropetrovsk region, where they decided to start a farm. Today, they cultivate about 100 hectares of their own and leased land, growing soybeans, corn, sunflowers, and wheat.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, Yuliia and Oleksandr did not even think about leaving the farm. They feel responsible for the members of their local community whom they rent land from, and also for the people around the world who rely on Ukrainian grain.
“This is our land, for which we will fight,” said Yuliia. “Despite everything, we need to sow, grow crops, so that Ukrainians have bread on the table. And also supply our Ukrainian grain to countries that need it.”
“The war has changed our lives” says Yuliia, who now drives the tractors herself due to labor shortages caused by the war. “It [is] impossible to buy fertilizers. Thanks to the fertilizers we received [from USAID], we were able to fertilize 10 hectares of wheat and hope for a better harvest.”
Volodymyr, Kharkiv region
Volodymyr is a co-founder of an agricultural business in Kharkiv region that grows grain and provides storing, processing, and shipping services to small farms in his region.
“The war destroyed our plans and brought down the agricultural market,” he said. “Prices for material and technical resources have increased, and grain prices are low. There is no additional lending at all, because our region was in the ‘red zone.’”
That’s when USAID stepped in. “Thanks to USAID, we received fertilizers, and at the beginning of 2023, we received seeds. This allowed us to save resources and plan our sowing,” explained Volodymyr.
Despite significant challenges caused by Russia’s war, Volodymyr continues to evolve his business. He plans to create a greenhouse and develop more services for local agricultural enterprises.
“Today, many farmers do not have warehouses and opportunities to weigh or load grain,” he said. “We try to help, sometimes even for free. We no longer call challenges ‘problems’; we say that we have ‘new opportunities’.”
However, Volodymyr’s main plan for the future is victory:
“Our plans for the future are to win. Restore all logistics chains and return to pre-war grain prices,” he said. “I believe that after victory, instantly, like a flower in the spring, agricultural production and all of Ukraine will flourish.”
Roman, Kharkiv region
Roman is a farmer from Kharkiv region, growing wheat, barley, sunflower, and corn on 120 hectares of land. At the beginning of the last sowing season, Roman joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and served 13 months, while his son took over the farm.
His farm has been surviving on the proceeds of grain he sold in January 2022, just before Russia’s invasion.
“Prices for fertilizers are very high now, and it is impossible to fully provide them yourself,” he explained. “Thanks to USAID, I received fertilizers this year and we could feed the winter barley. If we had not received these fertilizers, we could have done nothing, because there was no money.”
Despite the challenges both on and off the battlefield, Roman believes in the future of his farm, and Ukraine’s victory. He plans to store his grain in his farm’s warehouse to sell it at a favorable price, so he can invest back into his business. He dreams of one day exchanging experiences with American farmers.
“Do not lose heart in such a difficult time,” he said. “Work and work again.”
Ukraine’s agricultural sector is critical to the country’s economy and to global food security, with Ukrainian grain feeding mouths in India, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey, and more.
In 2022 and 2023, USAID provided seeds and fertilizers to over 14,000 Ukrainian agricultural producers like Yuliia, Volodymyr, and Roman, enabling them to farm more than 460,000 hectares of land, and facilitating the production of at least 2 million tons of grain.
Through the Agri-Ukraine Initiative, USAID supports micro, small, and medium-sized grain and oilseed producers at important stages of production, harvest, storage, and export to ensure that Ukrainian grain can still reach the global markets that depend on it, despite Russia’s war.
About the Author
Krystyna Larkham is a Senior Communications Specialist with USAID’s Mission in Ukraine.
