Ukrainian farmers in frontline regions continue their work despite active combat, regularly harvesting under shelling and trying to preserve their farms in the challenging conditions of war. The situation has significantly worsened following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station by the occupiers, which led to the effective halt of irrigation systems in the southern regions. Additionally, Russia regularly attacks railway infrastructure, and there is pressure on agricultural exports from EU countries, where farmers block Ukrainian supplies. All these factors have significantly impacted yields in key regions of the country’s south.
This is reported by Finway
Sharp Decline in Yields After the Destruction of the Hydroelectric Power Station
Before the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station in 2021, the yield of grain and leguminous crops in the southern regions was significantly higher. In particular, in Zaporizhzhia, the yield was 37.9 quintals per hectare, in Kherson – 43.4 quintals per hectare, and in Mykolaiv – 41.3 quintals per hectare. By 2024, these figures have dropped significantly: in Zaporizhzhia – to 30.2 quintals per hectare, in Kherson – to 31.9, and in Mykolaiv – to 34.4 quintals per hectare. This decline in yield is directly related to the loss of irrigation and the intensification of hostilities in the south.
Constant Threat of Shelling and Support Issues for the Sector
“However, the biggest challenge for farmers in frontline areas is the constant enemy shelling of grain storage facilities, farms, infrastructure, and so on.”
In addition to the loss of irrigation, farmers face continuous shelling from the Russian Federation, leading to the destruction of grain storage facilities, agricultural machinery, and infrastructure. To support the agro-industrial complex, the government plans to allocate 13.1 billion hryvnias for the development of irrigation systems in the state budget for 2026. At the same time, members of the relevant parliamentary committee emphasize that this amount is insufficient to compensate for the losses the sector has suffered due to the war and the decline in yields.