Ukraine Sows Over 5 Million Hectares of Spring Grain Amid War

Ukrainian farmers have sown over 5 million hectares of spring grain during their fifth wartime season, despite daily Russian drone strikes, labor shortages, and attacks on logistics. Agriculture remains central to Ukraine’s economy, accounting for half of its exports, with roughly half going to the EU.

Taras Vysotskyi, Ukraine's Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, stated that over 20 million hectares are being sown for grains and oilseeds, including 7 million hectares of winter crops and 13 million of spring crops. For spring grains, over 5 million of a planned 6 million hectares are sown, with corn being the largest crop. For oilseeds, over 4 million of 5 million planned hectares of sunflower and over 1.5 million of 2 million planned hectares of soybean are in the ground. Farmers also planted 170,000 hectares of sugar beet.

Vysotskyi identified labor shortages due to military mobilization and emigration as the biggest challenge, followed by security risks near the front lines. Constant, though less critical, issues include logistics disruptions, financing constraints due to underdeveloped insurance markets, and the cost of fuel and fertilizers. While state support programs offer lower interest rates and insurance compensation, demand far exceeds supply, allowing the sector to survive but not grow.

Ukraine exports 65-70% of its agricultural output, with 85% moving through the Odesa region ports. Vysotskyi emphasized that Ukrainian agricultural products account for less than 5% of EU consumption, dismissing fears of competition and suggesting cooperation to substitute products the EU imports from elsewhere. He concluded that the labor crisis can only be resolved with the end of the war.