Constant shelling and a severe labor shortage: How Ukrainian farmers are surviving during the war
8 July 17:03
ANALYSIS
Despite intensifying Russian attacks, labor shortages, and constant danger in the fields, Ukrainian farmers continue to harvest crops and provide the country with food. At the same time, the agricultural sector remains the mainstay of the Ukrainian economy, as it accounts for the majority of export revenues. Leonid Kozachenko, president of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation, spoke about this in a comment to "Komersant Ukrainian".
According to him, this year’s harvest is taking place under extremely difficult conditions. A significant increase in security risks has compounded the problems that have been building up over the past few years.
“The situation is truly difficult. And it’s made worse by the fact that there are now more airstrikes and more threats. Although there are other problems that began earlier—namely, the costs of carrying out this work. There isn’t enough labor to carry out this work. So all of this together creates major problems,” Kozachenko noted.
Despite this, Ukrainians should not worry about food supplies. The president of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation emphasizes that the domestic market will be fully supplied.
“There’s no need to doubt that we’ll have enough bread and food. We’ll have enough of everything because we have great potential, despite the fact that we’re in catastrophic conditions. And under these conditions, we’ll supply the domestic market without a doubt,” he stressed.
At the same time, it is important today not only to grow a harvest but also to maintain the country’s economic stability. According to Kozachenko, the agricultural sector remains the key source of foreign exchange earnings.
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“60% of Ukraine’s exports consist of agricultural products. And this maintains economic stability without fueling inflation. Other sectors of the economy cannot hold up as well as the agricultural sector,” he noted.
The greatest tragedy of the war remains the loss of human life. Farmers risk their lives every day working in fields that are under threat from drone attacks and explosive devices.
“Many people are dying in the fields right now—some are stepping on landmines, and others are caught in shelling. This is caused by drones. The worst part is that it’s taking the lives of our farmers, who are already in short supply today,” emphasized the president of the UAK.
The labor shortage in the industry remains critical. According to Kozachenko’s estimates, the agricultural sector needs at least 100,000 workers—machine operators, combine harvesters, tractor drivers, equipment repairers, and livestock farm specialists.
Due to the shortage of men, more and more women are entering professions that were previously considered traditionally male.
“Our young women have begun to take on professions that don’t attract women in any other country in the world. These are combine operators and tractor drivers. More than a thousand female combine operators and tractor drivers have already received their certificates,” Kozachenko said.
Older people are also returning to work to make up for the labor shortage. At the same time, as the active phase of the harvest begins, farmers face yet another danger—large-scale field fires caused by shelling.
According to the president of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation, farmers are already forming their own firefighting teams and purchasing specialized equipment to quickly extinguish fires and prevent crop losses.
“Farmers are forming their own firefighting teams to save the grain. Some enterprises, especially large ones, have already begun purchasing specialized equipment capable of fighting fires that break out in the fields,” he noted.
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