As a result of Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, a number of communities and agricultural producers in Ukraine are suffering from the war. In this regard, the USAID Program for Agrarian and Rural Development – AGRO, together with the branch associations of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council and the All-Ukrainian Community Association, are implementing projects to support communities and agricultural producers in order to ensure food security. This was reported by the Ministry of Agrarian Policy.
“Today, our international partners have shown great support and solidarity, together with associations they implement projects that help support agricultural producers and communities in times of war. These projects help not only to support food security in the regions affected by hostilities, but also to establish partnerships between communities and agricultural producers and restore economic activity,” said the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Solskyi.
GS “All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council” works with agricultural producers who needed additional support for timely provision of spring field work and effective continuation of agricultural production.
“Already today, with joint efforts, the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council delivered more than 350 tons of necessary goods to communities in thirteen regions, including Kharkiv, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Mykolaiv, and Kherson. Delivered more than 300 kg of vegetable seeds and 35 tons of seed potatoes to individuals and households.The Starlink complexes were transferred to the de-occupied territories, which made it possible to maintain communication and establish production processes at 23 agricultural enterprises,” says Andriy Dykun, Head of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council.
The All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council has also created an operational legal advisory headquarters, where agrarian enterprises can receive the necessary consultations regarding the organization of the economic process. 53 agricultural enterprises received seed loans thanks to the project’s legal and advisory assistance.
The All-Ukrainian Association of Communities is implementing the “United Communities” project, which is aimed at supporting the vital activities of communities and promoting economic activity in communities during the war. Thanks to this initiative, communities unite through brotherhood and mutual assistance for the sake of Victory in the war and the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
The activity of the project is aimed at the organization and administration of logistics services for the delivery of the necessary goods to ensure food security. The All-Ukrainian Association of Communities establishes cooperation with partner communities within and outside of Ukraine, with volunteers, public organizations and charitable foundations.
“Since the beginning of the implementation of the project, the communities located in the rear have transferred more than 500 tons of food and essential goods to the communities that have found themselves in the conditions of active hostilities. These are mainly food, medicines, hygiene products, clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, sleeping bags, generators and other vital goods.Approximately fifty communities received aid, which provided food and everything necessary for about ten thousand people for half a month. It is not only about residents of communities affected by Russian aggression, but also about internally displaced persons,” said Ivan Slobodianyk, executive director of VAG.
For example, the Goshchan community of the Rivne region donated 25.5 tons of food and hygiene products (potatoes, flour, oil, pasta, canned meat, sausages, condensed milk, juices, cookies) to 6 communities: Novovodolaz, Rohan, Boguduhivska, Krasnokutska and Malynyvska territorial communities of Kharkiv region and Omelnytsk community of Poltava region.
Also, within the framework of the “United Communities” initiative, various consultations are held in order to activate the economic processes of communities in new conditions, restore entrepreneurial activity, and share experiences in solving problematic issues that communities face every day.
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The USAID Program for Agrarian and Rural Development (AGRO) is a five-year program of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which is implemented by Kimonix International.
The goal of the program: accelerate the economic development of rural communities of Ukraine, which need the most support, by improving management in the agricultural sector, which will contribute to the development of more productive, modern and profitable micro, small and medium-sized agricultural enterprises (MSMEs).
Goals of the USAID AGRO Program: improvement of productivity and access to markets in targeted value added chains, improvement of support functions and regulatory framework in the agricultural sector.
The USAID AGRO program accepted the challenges of war and adapted its activities to help resuscitate supply chains, restore the economic activity of agricultural producers, build a strong and viable market system, and ensure food security in Ukraine and the world.