Ukraine's War-Torn Farmers Face Devastating Harvest Losses
Ukraine's farmers are struggling to sell their harvest due to the ongoing war and drought. The price of food-grade wheat has declined by 30-35%, making it difficult for farmers to cover their production costs.
The war in Ukraine has severely impacted the country's agricultural sector, with many farms operating at a loss. According to Denys Marchuk, deputy chairman of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council, Ukrainian farmers have already harvested over 28 million tons of grains and pulses, but a large part of this harvest cannot be sold.
The situation is expected to worsen in the coming weeks and months as grain and oilseed crops are usually harvested later. Farmers plan to leave corn in the fields due to lack of storage capacity and high electricity costs for drying.
The Ukrainian government has vowed to provide support, including extending a loan program to farmers and applying for €220 million in aid from the European Commission. However, experts warn that temporary alternatives cannot replace the ports, and the current blockade of the Black Sea is an even greater threat to the Ukrainian economy than Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.