Representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Government of Ukraine, donor countries and international partners have outlined key areas of support for the agricultural sector and rural communities of Ukraine in the context of the current challenges caused by the full-scale war.According to the FAO press service, the relevant issues were discussed during the visit of the Acting Head of the FAO Office in Ukraine, Mohammed Azuka, and the Head of FAO Regional Programmes for Europe and Central Asia, Raimund Jelle. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen the strategic partnership, promote the FAO Emergency Response and Early Recovery Plan for 2025-2026, as well as coordinate approaches to the long-term development of agri-food systems.“FAO will continue to work closely with all partners to support Ukraine’s agricultural sector and accelerate the transformation of agri-food systems. Our task is to ensure that farmers can maintain production, contribute to strengthening food security and energy sustainability. Interaction with the Government of Ukraine, in particular with the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, is of fundamental importance to ensure effective targeted assistance even in emergency situations,” emphasized Raimund Jähle.During the meeting with the Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Vitaliy Koval, special attention was paid to the development of post-harvest processing infrastructure, in particular, supporting the vegetable value chain. Such measures are aimed at minimizing losses, increasing production efficiency and strengthening the stability of local food systems.A new FAO project aimed at developing bioenergy from agricultural biomass was separately presented. The initiative envisages increasing the energy independence of agricultural producers and creating additional sources of income.Given the security risks and current threats, the Ministry emphasizes the importance of restoring access to agricultural lands and revitalizing the rural economy. FAO, within the framework of its post-crisis strategy, pays special attention to demining and returning contaminated areas to productive use in order to ensure the livelihoods of the affected population.The possibility of holding a specialized event within the framework of the upcoming Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine, which is scheduled for July in Rome, was also considered. The event will be dedicated to attracting investments in the agricultural sector as one of the key areas of national reconstruction.During a separate meeting with the Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Svitlana Grinchuk, the issue of the environmental component of reconstruction was discussed. The parties confirmed their readiness for further cooperation in the field of forestry, climate policy and ecosystem restoration, and also agreed to expand interaction taking into account international obligations and the principles of the nature-based approach.According to the report, the FAO Emergency Response and Early Recovery Plan for 2025-2026 will become the strategic basis for further support to Ukraine. Combining urgent measures with long-term reforms, FAO seeks to ensure the restoration of agri-food systems and form a sustainable agricultural sector capable of supporting the well-being of the rural population and contributing to the overall economic growth of the country.
Source: https://agroportal.ua/news/ukraina/ukrajina-ta-fao-sklali-plan-vidnovlennya-agrosektoru-na-2025-2026-roki
