FAO, Norway allocate $4 mln to support 6,000 rural households in three front-line regions
The Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with the financial support of the Norwegian government, are launching a program to support rural communities in front-line regions with a total budget of $4 million.
According to a ministry publication, the project will cover more than 6,000 rural households in Chernihiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Mykolaiv regions.
The project is scheduled to begin in spring 2026, with participant registration managed by local communities.
"The implementation of this program will combine rapid support for affected communities with the restoration of the agricultural sector’s production capacity in frontline regions. Importantly, the participant selection mechanism involves local communities, ensuring that aid is targeted and transparent," said Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture Denys Bashlyk.
The Ministry of Economy said priority support will go to the most vulnerable families and farmers, including internally displaced persons and those returning home. The assistance aims to sustain food production and create conditions for farmers to resume profitable activities, including crop cultivation and livestock farming. In Mykolaiv region, the program will also help restore access to farmland contaminated with explosive remnants.
Under the program, more than 4,000 rural households will receive vegetable and potato seeds. Around 1,900 livestock households will receive sets of day-old poultry chicks, along with cash assistance for feed and veterinary services. The program also provides individual support for small farmers registered in the State Agrarian Register, including greenhouses, irrigation systems, water storage equipment, vouchers, and technical assistance.
FAO Ukraine Representative Shakhnoza Muminova said that combining agricultural support with the restoration of access to farmland helps remove key barriers for farmers to resume full-scale operations.
Norwegian Minister of International Development Åsmund Aukrust said the war continues to disrupt agricultural production and pose risks to food security, so Norway is supporting UN efforts to aid Ukrainian farmers.
Since the start of the full-scale war, Norway has provided about $14.8 million through the FAO to support agricultural recovery and land demining in Ukraine.