Gardening Season 2026: How Much Does It Cost to Plow 100 Square Meters of Land in Different Regions of Ukraine
14 April 20:45
In Ukraine, in addition to large-scale planting operations on the fields of major agricultural holdings, the gardening season traditionally begins in the private sector. However, this year’s preparations for planting potatoes and vegetables are placing a significant financial burden on farmers and summer residents.
While last year a hundred square meters of plowed land cost an average of 50–80 UAH across Ukraine, this year, amid a sharp rise in fuel prices, the price has doubled, and in some places even tripled.
At some gas stations in April 2026, prices reached nearly 94 UAH per liter.
Approximate plowing prices by region (per 100 square meters)
The cost of services depends heavily on the type of equipment and the distance from the nearest settlement:
- Western Ukraine (Volyn, Rivne, Lviv regions):
Plowing with a large tractor starts at 70 UAH per 100 square meters.
- Central Ukraine (Kyiv, Poltava, and Cherkasy regions):
The average price for a tractor is 70–115 UAH.
- In some areas of Poltava Oblast, for example, the price reaches 150 UAH per 100 square meters of arable land.
- North (Chernihiv Oblast):
In some communities, prices for tractor plowing remain at 80–150 UAH, but equipment owners warn of a possible further increase due to a shortage of spare parts and high prices for lubricants.
- East and South:
Prices range from 100 to 200 UAH per 100 square meters depending on soil density and the security situation.
Leonid Kozachenko, President of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation, told "Komersant Ukrainian" that it is impossible to draw a definitive conclusion about whether Ukrainians will cultivate fewer gardens due to rising fuel costs, but it is certain that it will be harder and that yields will be lower.
“Indeed, plowing prices have gone up. If it’s a small plot of land near the house—say, 5 to 10 hundred square meters—then it’s not difficult. The cost there is 70 hryvnias per 100 square meters; it may be affordable for the owner to cultivate it himself without hiring anyone. But if it’s larger—say, half a hectare—then it becomes difficult. In that case, you have to hire someone, and it will be more expensive,” says Leonid Kozachenko.
He added that another issue is whether farmers will apply fertilizers, which are currently in short supply and have skyrocketed in price. Do they have their own manure to use for fertilization, or other products? In other words, there are many factors at play.
“It’s impossible to draw a definitive conclusion about whether Ukrainians will cultivate fewer gardens because of this—but it’s certain that it will be harder and that yields will be lower. Because in addition to fertilization and cultivation, you also need to supply moisture, which is currently in short supply. And to supply it, you have to pump it, but electricity is getting more expensive, and all of this also hits the wallet. “Actually, I’ve always said that we’ll never starve to death in Ukraine, but the fact that we’ll feel these costs—the rising costs across all components—is indeed true,” emphasized the president of the Ukrainian Agrarian Confederation.
Despite the high cost of fuel, tilling the land with your own motor-cultivator remains significantly cheaper than renting such equipment. When renting machinery, you have to pay not only for fuel but also for the motor-cultivator operator’s labor (which, in the case of a motor-cultivator, involves heavy physical work) and any repairs to someone else’s equipment.
Using your own motor cultivator is particularly practical for cultivating small plots of 2–5 acres. This includes controlling the plowing depth and the quality of cultivation. However, motor cultivators are also diesel-powered and cost from 25,000 UAH, while professional heavy-duty motor cultivators start at 50,000 UAH and up.
Despite such significant initial investments, owning your own equipment pays for itself within 3–4 seasons of active use.
In addition to direct savings on hired labor, the owner gains the main advantage—independence. There’s no need to adjust to the landlord’s schedule or wait your turn during the peak of fieldwork, when every sunny day is worth its weight in gold.
With a motor cultivator costing 25,000 UAH and the plot being worked twice a year (spring/fall), the net savings amount to about 1,000 UAH per year. This means that with minimal usage, the equipment will pay for itself over a long period of time; however, on larger plots or when helping neighbors, the payback period is reduced to 2–3 seasons.
Owning a motor-cultivator requires storage space and physical strength to operate it. If your health does not allow you to perform heavy labor, renting remains the only rational option.
The 2026 gardening season shows that even self-sufficiency in vegetables—a tradition in Ukraine—is becoming increasingly expensive and resource-intensive. Rising prices for fuel, fertilizers, electricity, and land cultivation are shaping a new reality for households.
Ukrainians are unlikely to abandon gardening entirely, but they will change their approach, which could lead to smaller harvests and, as a result, additional pressure on vegetable prices in the markets.
