By KYIV. Nov 7 (Interfax-Ukraine) – On November 4, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) signed an agreement on the establishment of the organization’s Project Office in Ukraine to assist the country, including in extending the Istanbul grain agreements on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian seaports.
According to the website of the Ministry of Economy, on behalf of the Ukrainian government, the document was signed by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yulia Svyrydenko, and from FAO – by its Deputy Director-General Laurent Thomas.
"Thanks to the implementation of the FAO Rapid Response Plan in Ukraine, the production and export capacities of the Ukrainian agricultural sector are being restored. It also improves the lives of the people FAO helps. I am convinced that with the opening of the Project Office, the cooperation between FAO and Ukraine, which has been going on for many years, will receive a new dynamic," the ministry quoted Svyrydenko as saying.
Following the start of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, FAO expanded its activities in the country to support agricultural production and food systems in order to protect war-affected households and communities, according to the ministry.
"This agreement allows us to expand cooperation in the country, increase Ukraine’s agricultural potential and protect the food security of every vulnerable Ukrainian," FAO Deputy Director-General Laurent Thomas said in the message.
The Ministry of Economy also recalled that FAO and the Government of Ukraine, with the financial support of Japan, Canada and the private Minderoo Foundation, are implementing the Grain Storage Support Strategy, the purpose of which is to help farmers with temporary means to store their crops and support Ukraine’s export potential at a high level. The strategy provides for the supply of grain storage hoses, equipment for loading and unloading, as well as modular granaries to Ukrainian farmers. As part of the strategy, it is planned to ensure the storage of at least 4.07 million tonnes of grain (25% of the national demand).
In addition, FAO is helping small farmers with winter wheat seeds: the organization is now donating 5,000 tonnes of seeds to farmers to ensure the harvest in 2023. And since the start of the large-scale invasion, FAO has provided tens of thousands of Ukrainian producers with emergency agricultural assistance in the form of seeds and is supporting rural households with vouchers to purchase agricultural inputs and tools.
It is specified that in general, FAO plans to raise $180.4 million for the implementation of the Rapid Response Plan in Ukraine and the Grain Storage Support Strategy.
