Around April, the harsh winter comes to an end and the land begins to sprout. Ukrainian farmers are also busy. They wait for the soil to soften as the temperature rises, and then use a tractor to move the soil. For farmers, the fields are their life. Just by touching the soil, the earth gives us the power to live, and sometimes it also provides us with income,” smiles Mikhail Markov, policy and program advisor at the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) Ukraine office.
On the 23rd of this month, the G7 Miyazaki Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting concluded, with discussions on achieving a resilient and sustainable agriculture and food system and increasing productivity, as well as a statement on supporting the reconstruction of Ukraine’s agriculture.
Before the Russian invasion, Ukraine was one of the world’s leading grain-producing countries, also known as the “granary of Europe. The production of sunflower oil is the highest in the world, and the northeastern Kharkiv Oblast is known as one of the leading sunflower growing areas in the country.
When the invasion began in February 2022, the province became a fierce battleground. Because of its location on the border with Russia, many residents not only had their homes destroyed, but were also deprived of farm equipment and other tools of daily life. The security situation has deteriorated significantly, and some farmers do not want to go near their land. They have been deprived of hope and everything else. Even if they have land, they have no money to buy seeds. The supply chain no longer functions, and farmers are left with nothing to do.
The sunflower planted area in Kharkiv Oblast was about 573,000 ha, or about 30% of the oblast’s total agricultural land, but was halved by the invasion. According to the “RAPID DAMAGE AND NEEDS ASSESSMENT” published by the World Bank in March 2023, the estimated damage and loss to Ukrainian agriculture caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine is US$40.2 billion. Kharkiv Oblast was the third most damaged oblast.
In March of this year, JICA distributed sunflower and corn seeds to farmers in the Halkhiu Oblast through the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine and FAO. About 31 tons of sunflowers and 64 tons of corn were distributed, which translates to about 10,000 hectares in terms of planted area. Mr. Markov spoke of the significance of the project, saying, “It had a very big impact on the farmers who had lost everything.
Preparation for distribution of arrived seeds
From April 16 to 22, Mr. Markov visited the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake with five officials from the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, who were invited by JICA. He visited irrigation facilities that were severely damaged by the earthquake and had direct dialogues with local residents.
One man in particular, who lost his family in the tsunami, told us that he will never forget what he heard about what it was like at that time. He opened a map and said, “This is where my house used to be,” but there was no trace of it. Mr. Markov, who is Ukrainian himself, said, “The loss of everything overlaps with the Ukraine of today. It was very encouraging to see the residents loving the land where they were born and raised and working hard to rebuild it,” he said.
However, none of the people we spoke to are still living their “pre-disaster” lives. Everyone has experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake and has overcome it to build a new life. Ukraine is no exception, and people’s lives cannot be restored to the way they were before the invasion. People are living stronger because of their painful experiences. I look back on having been able to see with my own eyes the spirit of “Build Back Better,” which aims to survive disasters and create even more livable communities.
As a Ukrainian and as an employee of an international organization. He thanked us, saying, “Ukraine will need a lot of support in the future,” and that “this seed is a small step, but certainly a step of hope.”
© Source JICA
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