Agro Perspectiva

FAO launches a $150 million Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan for Ukraine to support war-affected rural communities

01.05.2025 05:08 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — The war in Ukraine continues inflicting pressure on the agricultural sector, making it increasingly difficult for farmers and rural families to continue food production and sustain their livelihoods. In response, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has launched a two-year Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan (EERRP) 2025–2026, designed to support over half a million vulnerable people in restoring agricultural production, protecting livelihoods and building long-term resilience.

«This plan comes at a time when Ukrainian farmers are still facing enormous challenges — from mined fields and destroyed infrastructure to limited access to markets,» said Mohammed Azouqa, Head of the FAO Office in Ukraine a.i. «Through the EERRP 2025–2026, FAO continues supporting Ukraine’s efforts to address the impact of the war, particularly in rural areas near the frontline. We remain committed to strengthening the resilience of the country’s agricultural sector and contributing to long-term food security in Ukraine and beyond.»

According to the Fourth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (February 2022-December 2024) conducted by the World Bank, the total damage and losses in the sector are estimated at nearly $84 billion, with an additional $1.6 billion in the irrigation sector alone. The damage includes the destruction of storage facilities, fisheries, aquaculture systems and perennial crops, as well as the forced slaughter of livestock. It also covers the destruction and theft of machinery and equipment, along with stolen inputs and harvested products. In parallel, Ukraine faces one of the largest contamination crises in the world: as of December 2024, over 138 000 km² of land and 14 000 km² of water remained at risk due to explosive remnants of war and landmines, posing ongoing threats to farming and food security.

«Despite these challenges, Ukrainian farmers continue to demonstrate resilience and remarkable strength,» said Vitalii Koval, Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine. «We are grateful for FAO’s practical support — from emergency inputs to long-term planning. Together with our partners, we are investing in the resilience of rural families and the future of Ukraine’s food systems, so they can recover and grow stronger.»

FAO’s Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan aims to enable affected farmers to return to production, reduce reliance on humanitarian aid and contribute to national food security. The plan focuses on supporting rural families and small-scale producers in frontline oblasts through a combination of emergency assistance, mine action, land rehabilitation and early recovery measures. Emergency activities are planned for the first year and address immediate needs, while recovery interventions will continue over the full two-year period to help restore production, improve access to markets and build sustainable livelihoods.

The plan is structured around three interconnected pillars. The first is a one-year Emergency Response pillar with a primarily focus on the distribution of agricultural inputs to restore and sustain livelihoods of the most vulnerable rural families and small-scale farmers affected by the war. The second pillar supports the rehabilitation of agricultural land contaminated by unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war, particularly in frontline oblasts. The third pillar is composed of multi-year Early Recovery activities aimed at supporting both rural households and small-scale farmers with relevant information, inputs and technical support to strengthen their productive and business-oriented capacities, increase their production and access to markets. All three pillars will be supported by continuous technical analyses and assessments, which will help shape targeted interventions, respond to emergency needs and ensure that early recovery efforts are timely and effective.

To implement the EERRP, FAO requires $150 million over the next two years. In close coordination with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and local authorities, FAO invites international partners to contribute to the sustainable recovery and long-term resilience of Ukraine’s agrifood systems.