As part of food security measures and livelihoods for vulnerable families in Ukraine, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) distributed kits to 17,740 households in ten oblasts. seed potatoes so they can plant it and harvest in the fall. This was reported by press service FAO.
The campaign, funded by the European Union (EU) and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), will reach about 46,000 people.
“It is now very important to help farmers, both large and small, and those families who are engaged in homestead farming,” said Pierre Vote, FAO’s High Representative for Ukraine. “Agriculture is one of the main sectors of the economy.” It is also one of the main sources of income for the country’s 12.6 million people, living in rural areas and accounting for almost a third of the country’s population. ”
A total of 862 tons of seed potatoes have been distributed to the needy in recent weeks. Potatoes were distributed in time before spring planting so that this nutritious product could be harvested in September.
Each family or household of an average of 2.6 people received a set of 50 kg of seed potatoes, which they are expected to be able to harvest about 600 kg of potatoes. Grown potatoes can be stored for many months for future consumption, used for planting in future seasons or sold in local markets.
In each locality, FAO worked closely with local authorities and project partners to help select beneficiaries, distribute kits, monitor and interact with communities.
“Thanks to our cooperation with FAO, we delivered 2.5 tons of potatoes to the Rudkivka united territorial community of Lviv region.This assistance was provided to 50 internally displaced households, said the chairman of the Lviv Agrarian Chamber, FAT’s implementing partner. engaged in production, because one of the tasks of FAO is to ensure the production of food on the ground. ”
About 15 tons of seed potatoes were delivered to 300 households in Lviv region in western Ukraine. Of these, 30 sets were distributed to families in the village of Khlopchytsy of the Rudkivka United Territorial Community. Currently, more than 150 internally displaced persons from other regions of Ukraine live in this village.
Dnipropetrovsk oblast in central and eastern Ukraine is another oblast where a seed potato distribution campaign took place, in which 3,690 households received kits. Some of them were taken to 41 villages of the Upper Dnieper United Territorial Community, whose residents provided shelter to 2,685 internally displaced persons.
“Some companies have closed, laid off or laid off people. We can’t provide jobs for the local population. We need to think about how to feed people this winter,” said Gennady Lebid, head of the Upper Dnieper United Territorial Community. due to conflict-related disruptions and uncertainties, people seek to grow vegetables and fruits in their gardens to feed their families.