Flanders and FAO join forces to support farmers and rural communities in war-affected Mykolaivska oblast
A USD 1 million project will support 550 rural households and small-scale farmers in Ukraine to restore agricultural production and strengthen resilience
©FAO/Anastasiia Borodaienko
01/04/2026, Kyiv
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Government of Flanders have launched a new initiative to support rural communities in Mykolaivska oblast of Ukraine. The project will help restore agricultural production, rehabilitate land damaged by warfare and strengthen the resilience of rural households and small-scale farmers whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the ongoing war.
Mykolaivska oblast is among the regions of Ukraine most heavily affected by the war. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, agricultural infrastructure, irrigation systems and productive assets have suffered extensive damage. The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023 further disrupted water access, leaving large areas of farmland difficult or unsafe to cultivate. At the same time, significant tracts of agricultural land remain contaminated by explosive remnants of war and damaged soils, posing serious risks to farmers and slowing the recovery of food production.
“For farming families in Mykolaivska oblast, returning to agriculture is not simply a matter of seeds and tools,” said Shakhnoza Muminova, Head of the FAO Office in Ukraine. “They must also contend with damaged soils, disrupted water systems and the uncertainty created by years of the war. By combining direct livelihood support with technical work on soil assessment and sustainable land management, this project helps rural communities safely rebuild production and restore their confidence in farming.”
Through the project, 500 vulnerable rural families, including internally displaced persons, returnees, women-headed households and elderly farmers, will receive high-quality vegetable and potato seeds to safeguard immediate food production. An additional 50 small-scale farmers will receive greenhouse kits, micro-irrigation systems, water storage facilities and agricultural vouchers to help stabilize production and expand market-oriented farming. These inputs will be complemented by practical training on climate-smart agriculture, soil management and sustainable farming practices.
“Supporting Ukraine’s agricultural recovery is essential not only for rural livelihoods, but also for the resilience of global food systems,” said Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of Flanders. “Through this partnership with FAO, Flanders is proud to contribute to practical solutions that help farming communities restore production, rehabilitate land affected by the war and strengthen sustainable agrifood systems. This engagement also reflects Flanders’ broader Eastern Strategy, through which we support Ukraine’s recovery and long‑term resilience.”
Alongside direct agriculture livelihood assistance, FAO will support the Government of Ukraine’s Working Group for Soil Damage Assessment to strengthen national capacity for identifying and addressing war-related soil contamination. This includes harmonizing methodologies for soil damage assessments and developing recommendations to guide the safe return of agricultural land to productive use.
The project forms part of FAO’s Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan 2026–2028 (EERRP) for Ukraine and contributes to the Organization’s ongoing efforts to support the recovery of the country’s agricultural sector. Sustaining agricultural production in frontline regions remains critical for local food supply, rural employment and the stability of Ukraine’s agrifood system.
Mykolaivska oblast is among the regions of Ukraine most heavily affected by the war. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, agricultural infrastructure, irrigation systems and productive assets have suffered extensive damage. The destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023 further disrupted water access, leaving large areas of farmland difficult or unsafe to cultivate. At the same time, significant tracts of agricultural land remain contaminated by explosive remnants of war and damaged soils, posing serious risks to farmers and slowing the recovery of food production.
“For farming families in Mykolaivska oblast, returning to agriculture is not simply a matter of seeds and tools,” said Shakhnoza Muminova, Head of the FAO Office in Ukraine. “They must also contend with damaged soils, disrupted water systems and the uncertainty created by years of the war. By combining direct livelihood support with technical work on soil assessment and sustainable land management, this project helps rural communities safely rebuild production and restore their confidence in farming.”
Through the project, 500 vulnerable rural families, including internally displaced persons, returnees, women-headed households and elderly farmers, will receive high-quality vegetable and potato seeds to safeguard immediate food production. An additional 50 small-scale farmers will receive greenhouse kits, micro-irrigation systems, water storage facilities and agricultural vouchers to help stabilize production and expand market-oriented farming. These inputs will be complemented by practical training on climate-smart agriculture, soil management and sustainable farming practices.
“Supporting Ukraine’s agricultural recovery is essential not only for rural livelihoods, but also for the resilience of global food systems,” said Matthias Diependaele, Minister-President of Flanders. “Through this partnership with FAO, Flanders is proud to contribute to practical solutions that help farming communities restore production, rehabilitate land affected by the war and strengthen sustainable agrifood systems. This engagement also reflects Flanders’ broader Eastern Strategy, through which we support Ukraine’s recovery and long‑term resilience.”
Alongside direct agriculture livelihood assistance, FAO will support the Government of Ukraine’s Working Group for Soil Damage Assessment to strengthen national capacity for identifying and addressing war-related soil contamination. This includes harmonizing methodologies for soil damage assessments and developing recommendations to guide the safe return of agricultural land to productive use.
The project forms part of FAO’s Emergency and Early Recovery Response Plan 2026–2028 (EERRP) for Ukraine and contributes to the Organization’s ongoing efforts to support the recovery of the country’s agricultural sector. Sustaining agricultural production in frontline regions remains critical for local food supply, rural employment and the stability of Ukraine’s agrifood system.