Ukraine: Cultivating change and supporting recovery in the South

Volodymyr’s story: Staying strong through hard times

Volodymyr has been a farmer for decades, running his 400-hectare farm in the village of Zelenyi Hai. He grows crops like aubergines, tomatoes, and sunflowers.

After graduating from Mykolaiv Agricultural University, Volodymyr officially registered his farm 12 years ago, creating jobs for two full-time workers and hiring seasonal workers during the harvest.

Before the war, his farm was doing well, earning 12 million UAH (€265,400) a year. But when the fighting escalated in 2022, everything changed.

“The greenhouse, a warehouse, and two of our excavators were destroyed during the shelling,” Volodymyr shares. “We managed to fix one excavator, but the damage to our farm was huge.”

Even after the shelling ended, the challenges didn’t stop. Volodymyr and his team had to clear their fields of debris and remnants of war before they could even think about rebuilding.

Rebuilding and facing new challenges

As the situation in the village improved, Volodymyr started focusing on getting his farm back to work. But new problems arose—transportation and labour costs went up, while produce prices stayed low.

On top of this, a record-breaking heatwave hit southern Ukraine in July 2024, with temperatures reaching 41.6 degrees Celsius. “In this heat, nothing grows,” Volodymyr says. “It’s been hard on the tomatoes and sunflowers.”

Support came at a critical time through the MSME Grant Support Programme from the Danish Refugee Council. With the grant, Volodymyr bought a quick-release front loader that made his work much faster. “This equipment helps us load trucks quickly, saving time and money,” he explains.

The new loader also allowed Volodymyr to hire a driver from his village, giving someone in the community much-needed work. “The loader is very useful,” says Olena, DRC’s Economic Recovery Officer. “It’s used for many tasks like moving grain, fertiliser, and hay, and it’s making a big difference on the farm.”

Helping the community recover

Volodymyr’s farm isn’t just about growing crops—it’s also a source of income for people in the village. During the harvest, the farm hires local workers, and the new job created through the grant is helping even more.

The MSME programme has provided grants to 206 businesses across Mykolaiv and Kherson Oblasts, totalling over 31 million UAH (€685,000). This support, funded by the American people through USAID, is helping small businesses recover and strengthen local economies.

Despite the challenges, Volodymyr is looking ahead with optimism. He plans to grow his business, improve his equipment, and meet the needs of his customers. “We grow everything and are ready to adjust to what people need,” he says.

Thanks to the support he received, Volodymyr is rebuilding his farm and helping to restore hope for his community and Ukraine’s agricultural future.