Farmers from Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions received sunflower seeds free of charge. This became possible thanks to the initiative of AGRI-Ukraine from the USAID Agricultural and Rural Development Program – AGRO and Lidea Seeds Ukraine company.
The delivery of seeds was provided by the All-Ukrainian Association of Communities within the framework of the “Consolidated Communities” project, which is implemented jointly with USAID AGRO.
The seeds were handed over to farmers who applied through the State Agricultural Register to receive maize seeds but were unable to do so due to the large number of applicants. Therefore, the seed company decided to provide additional assistance from available stocks.
The seeds were received by farmers cultivating from 5 to 500 hectares in the Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions.
According to preliminary forecasts, the revenue from the seeds received by farmers could reach approximately 360 million UAH, contributing to the recovery of agricultural production in communities affected by the war.
The “United Communities” project aims to support the resilience and viability of communities in war-affected areas by providing timely logistics for essential goods and resources for agriculture.
The USAID Agricultural and Rural Development Program (AGRO) is implemented by Chemonics International. The program’s goal is to accelerate economic development in rural communities in Ukraine that require the most support by improving agricultural sector management.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is the leading development agency of the U.S. government. Since 1992, USAID has been working with Ukraine, supporting the country in strengthening its resilience against Russian aggression and promoting democratic and economic development. Currently, there are 42 USAID programs responding to urgent needs and long-term development goals of Ukraine as an independent, sovereign, democratic, and prosperous country. Since the start of full-scale Russian invasion on February 24, 2022, USAID has provided $24.9 billion in total assistance to Ukraine, including $2.8 billion in humanitarian aid and over $2.3 billion in development assistance.