The restoration of agricultural land in Ukraine after the war will require more than $20 billion, which accounts for about 15% of the pre-war gross domestic product (GDP). According to estimates from the Institute of Economic Research, this process will take over 10 years. Currently, Ukraine possesses 33% of the world’s black soil, but its area continues to decrease due to the war.
This is reported by Business • Media
Estimates of Agricultural Sector Losses
Experts have calculated the scale of losses, including:
- approximately $1.1 billion for primary reclamation needs;
- the cost of demining all land will be about $30 billion, of which $22 billion is needed for agricultural areas.
According to the IED, the main causes of soil damage are:
- explosions that lead to the mixing of fertile topsoil with lower layers;
- soil compaction caused by the movement of heavy military equipment;
- chemical contamination with heavy metals and fuel;
- destruction of tree belts that previously protected areas from erosion.
Long-Term Consequences for Agricultural Production
Furthermore, Ukraine may lose some areas from agricultural circulation for an extended period, as parts of them will be inaccessible for complete demining. As evidenced by the examples of Belgium and France, even 100 years after World War I, farmers continue to find shells on their lands.