Ukraine is counting on FAO’s support regarding the continuation of the grain agreement
5.11.2022 - 12:15
The Ministry of Economy is counting on the support of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the matter of extending the Istanbul Agreements.
The Cabinet of Ministers and FAO signed an Agreement on the establishment of the Organization’s Project Office in Ukraine and its assistance, the Ministry of Economy reports.
On the Ukrainian side, the document was signed on behalf of the government by the First Deputy Prime Minister – the Minister of Economy of Ukraine, Yulia Svyridenko. From the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — FAO Deputy Director General Laurent Thoma.
“Strengthening of cooperation is important today also in view of the need to prolong the “grain initiative”, the terms of which expire on November 19. Ukraine hopes for FAO’s support in this matter. This is extremely relevant both for Ukraine and for countries where there are problems with food security,” said Yuliya Svyridenko.
In turn, FAO Deputy Director General Laurent Thoma emphasized that after the start of large-scale hostilities, FAO expanded its activities in Ukraine to support agricultural production and food systems in order to protect war-affected households and communities.
With the financial support of, in particular, Japan, Canada and the Minderoo Foundation, FAO, together with the Government of Ukraine, implements the Strategy for Supporting Grain Storage. The purpose of the program is to help farmers with temporary means for storing crops and support Ukraine’s export potential at a high level.
The strategy envisages supplying Ukrainian farmers with sleeves for storing grain, equipment for loading and unloading, as well as modular grain warehouses. In general, within the framework of the Strategy, it is planned to ensure the storage of at least 4.07 million tons of grain (25% of the national need).
In addition, FAO is helping small farmers with winter wheat seeds: now the organization is giving farmers 5 thousand tons of seeds to ensure next year’s harvest. And since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, FAO has provided tens of thousands of Ukrainian producers with emergency agricultural aid in the form of seed material and supports rural households with multi-purpose cash aid and vouchers for the purchase of agricultural inputs and tools.
In general, FAO plans to attract $180.4 million for the implementation of the Rapid Response Plan in Ukraine and the Strategy for supporting grain storage.
