The two-year plan (2025–2026) will directly benefit over 500,000 people living in vulnerable areas near the front line.
Massive Damage to Ukraine’s Agricultural Sector
According to the World Bank, Ukraine’s agricultural sector has suffered nearly $84 billion in damage and losses between February 2022 and December 2024. This includes the destruction of:
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Warehouses and grain storage facilities
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Agricultural machinery and irrigation systems
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Perennial crops and farmlands
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Livestock farms and production resources
The irrigation sector alone has seen additional damage estimated at $1.6 billion.
“We are launching this plan at a time when Ukrainian farmers continue to face enormous challenges: from mined fields and destroyed infrastructure to limited access to markets,” said Mohammed Azuka, Acting Head of FAO’s Representative Office in Ukraine.
Objectives of the Emergency and Recovery Plan
The FAO's plan aims to restore agricultural production, reduce dependency on humanitarian aid, and bolster national food security. It focuses on rural households and small-scale farmers affected by ongoing hostilities.
Key Components of the Plan
The plan includes three strategic phases:
1. Emergency Agricultural Assistance (Year 1)
FAO will deliver seeds, tools, and essential agricultural inputs to vulnerable rural families and smallholders to jumpstart food production and stabilize local livelihoods.
2. Demining Agricultural Land
In cooperation with local and international partners, FAO will support the clearance of explosive remnants of war (ERW) from farmland, enabling safe cultivation and livestock grazing.
3. Long-Term Recovery and Development
This phase will include:
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Support for farm productivity and restoration of agricultural capacity
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Market access initiatives to reconnect farmers with buyers
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Technical assistance and training to build climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural practices
Data-Driven Implementation
All phases of the program will be guided by technical analyses, impact assessments, and field evaluations to ensure agility, effectiveness, and accountability.
Why This Matters
The FAO plan represents a major international effort to strengthen Ukraine’s food systems, protect rural livelihoods, and lay the foundation for long-term economic recovery. By enabling farmers to produce, sell, and sustain operations safely, Ukraine can gradually move from crisis response to resilience-building.
