Ukrainian farmers continue to work in frontline areas despite the challenging conditions of wartime. The harvest is being collected under constant shelling, and farmers are trying to preserve their farms even in situations where there is a threat to life and property.
This is reported by Business • Media
Impact of the Destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station and Irrigation Issues
After the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station by Russian troops, irrigation systems in the southern regions of Ukraine have effectively come to a halt, which is critically important for stable yields. Additionally, the Russians regularly shell railway infrastructure, complicating logistics, while European farmers periodically block the export of Ukrainian agricultural products, increasing pressure on the sector.
“At the same time, after the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Station by Russian occupiers, irrigation systems in the southern regions of Ukraine have almost completely stopped, and Russia regularly targets railway logistics. This is compounded by pressure from the EU, where farmers block Ukrainian agricultural exports. As a result, yields in key southern regions of Ukraine have significantly decreased.”
Yield Statistics: Dynamics from 2021 to 2024
According to the data, in 2021, the yield of grains and legumes in the southern regions of Ukraine was: in Zaporizhzhia region 37.9 quintals per hectare, in Kherson region – 43.4 quintals, and in Mykolaiv region – 41.3 quintals. However, in 2024, these figures have significantly decreased: the yield in Zaporizhzhia region was 30.2 quintals per hectare, in Kherson region – 31.9, and in Mykolaiv region – 34.4 quintals per hectare.
In addition to irrigation issues, the most challenging test for farmers remains the regular shelling of grain storage facilities, agricultural enterprises, and infrastructure objects, which significantly complicates agricultural business operations in frontline areas.
The draft state budget of Ukraine for 2026 allocates 13.1 billion hryvnias for the development of irrigation systems and support for the agro-industrial complex. However, according to estimates by the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada, this amount is insufficient for the full restoration of the sector, considering the scale of losses caused by the war.