Restoring agricultural land in Ukraine after the war will require over $20 billion, which is about 15% of the pre-war gross domestic product (GDP). According to data from the Institute of Economic Research, this work may take more than 10 years.
This is reported by Finway
Ukraine is home to 33% of the world’s black soil, but the war is leading to its gradual destruction. Experts estimate the scale of the damage, including the belief that:
- the first funding needed for reclamation is approximately $1.1 billion;
- the cost of demining all lands reaches about $30 billion, of which around $22 billion is necessary for agricultural lands.
According to data from the IED, the main factors leading to soil damage are:
- explosive destruction that mixes the fertile topsoil with the lower layers;
- compaction of areas by heavy military equipment;
- chemical contamination caused by heavy metals and fuel;
- destruction of tree belts that traditionally protected against erosion.
Additionally, Ukraine may lose certain areas from agricultural circulation for an extended period. Some of these areas may prove incapable of full demining. Experience from Belgium and France indicates that even 100 years after World War I, farmers are still finding shells.