Ukraine’s agriculture: FAO sets out a three-year emergency and early recovery plan

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has published its Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan for Ukraine for 2026–2028, outlining priority actions to protect agricultural livelihoods, restore productive capacity and support Ukraine’s agrifood sector.

“The war has significantly complicated the lives of Ukrainian farmers – from access to land and machinery to the ability to market their produce. At the same time, the agricultural sector remains vital to food security, employment and economic stability in the country.

This is why, together with our partners, we are investing in the resilience of rural families and the future of Ukraine’s food systems,” said Taras Vysotskyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.

The pressures, caused by the war, are particularly acute in frontline regions, where agricultural infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, access to land is constrained by explosive remnants of war, and producers face labour shortages and rising production costs. Together, these factors have disrupted production cycles, limited market access and weakened the agricultural sector’s capacity to operate beyond basic survival.

FAO’s Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan for 2026–2028 responds to these challenges through an integrated, multi-year approach that links immediate agricultural assistance with early recovery and resilience-building interventions.

The Plan prioritizes safeguarding food production for vulnerable rural families and small-scale farmers, while contributing to the restoration of productive assets, supporting targeted rehabilitation of agricultural land, and strengthening pathways toward market-oriented and climate-resilient production.

“Ukraine’s rural communities cannot afford a pause between emergency response and recovery,” said Shakhnoza Muminova, Head of FAO in Ukraine. “This Plan is designed to bridge that gap – protecting livelihoods now, restoring safe access to land and supporting farmers and rural families to rebuild production.

Continued, predictable support is critical to prevent deeper losses and to sustain recovery efforts over time.”

The Plan is structured around three mutually reinforcing pillars: evidence and coordination, emergency agriculture, and early recovery. Together, these pillars aim to ensure that assistance is targeted, data-driven and aligned with national priorities, while supporting the gradual transition from humanitarian assistance toward recovery and longer-term resilience.

Special emphasis is placed on frontline regions, women and youth, internally displaced persons and returnees, as well as on the rehabilitation of agricultural land affected by explosive hazards – a prerequisite for restoring production, strengthening food security and enabling safe economic activity in rural areas.

By linking emergency action with early recovery and investment-oriented interventions, FAO seeks to preserve Ukraine’s agricultural potential and support the agrifood sector as a cornerstone of national resilience and future reconstruction.

Today, FAO’s active portfolio in Ukraine amounts to USD 25.9 million, of which USD 24 million is dedicated to emergency and early recovery activities. Additional resources are required to expand coverage, prevent further erosion of productive capacity and ensure that agriculture remains a foundation for recovery and long-term development.

FAO in Ukraine

Since the escalation of the war in 2022, FAO has supported more than 300 000 rural families and nearly 17 000 small-scale agrifood enterprises.

Assistance has included seeds, animal feed, poultry kits, grain storage solutions, generators, irrigation systems, cash and vouchers, and matching grants – helping communities maintain food production and livelihoods despite ongoing hostilities.

 Additionally, through satellite analysis of 2.37 million hectares, FAO identified over one million craters, illustrating the scale of contamination and damage. Based on a multi-criteria prioritization process – including agricultural use, accessibility and feasibility of clearance – 32 000 hectares were identified for mine action interventions.

To date, farmers and rural families cultivating over 22 000 hectares have received targeted support to resume agricultural activities and begin rebuilding their livelihoods. The Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan for Ukraine 2026–2028 provides a clear framework to scale up action in line with needs that remain acute under continued war.