FAO Launches $150 Million Emergency Response Plan to Support Ukrainian Farmers
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has unveiled a new two-year emergency response and recovery plan worth $150 million aimed at helping rural communities in Ukraine rebuild their agricultural livelihoods amid ongoing war-related challenges.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to Ukrinform, citing FAO’s statement.
According to FAO’s Acting Head of Mission in Ukraine, Mohammed Asuka, the plan is designed to assist over half a million vulnerable individuals across the country, particularly those living near the frontlines.
“Ukrainian farmers continue to face extreme difficulties from landmines and destroyed infrastructure to restricted market access. With this new initiative, FAO is committed to helping restore agricultural activity and food security in war-affected regions,” Asuka stated.
The FAO plan for 2025–2026 is built around three interconnected pillars:
1. Emergency Assistance – a one-year phase focused on delivering seeds, fertilizers, and other key resources to small-scale farmers and rural households severely impacted by the conflict.
2. Land Clearance – a major component targeting the removal of explosive remnants of war from agricultural land to ensure safe farming operations.
3. Early Recovery and Resilience – long-term activities to restore production capacity, improve market access, and offer technical assistance to ensure sustainable development.
Each phase will be supported by ongoing technical assessments to ensure efficient and adaptive implementation based on local needs.
FAO is working closely with Ukraine’s Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, local authorities, and international partners to strengthen Ukraine’s agrifood systems and promote long-term recovery. The organization is also calling for additional donor support to expand and sustain these efforts.
According to the World Bank, Ukraine’s agricultural sector suffered approximately $84 billion in damages and losses between February 2022 and December 2024. The irrigation sector alone accounts for $1.6 billion in damages, with widespread destruction of farms, storage facilities, equipment, and perennial crops.
This latest initiative underscores the growing international commitment to Ukraine’s rural recovery and the strategic importance of safeguarding its agricultural sector amid wartime disruption.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Poland officially launched a €58.25 million concessional lending initiative aimed at supporting Polish companies investing in Ukraine.