Ukraine’s farmers struggle to sell harvest amid war, drought

Ukrainian farmers are struggling to sell their harvest due to a combination of factors, including Russian attacks on civilian ships that have made Black Sea ports, where 90% of the country's agricultural exports used to go, inaccessible. The Ukrainian government is attempting to find alternative routes, such as rail and road, and is negotiating an export corridor via Moldova.

However, experts argue that these temporary solutions cannot replace the ports and warn that the blockade of the Black Sea is even more damaging to the Ukrainian economy than the 2022 full-scale Russian invasion. Ukrainian Deputy Chairman of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council, Denys Marchuk, reported that more than 28 million tons of grains and pulses were harvested, but a significant portion remains unsold, leading to a lack of funds for the remaining harvest and winter crops.

The corn harvest alone could reach 33 million metric tons this year, but potential storage capacity shortages of up to 10 million tons may force some farmers to leave their corn in the fields. Prices for agricultural products have fallen sharply, with food-grade wheat prices down by 30 to 35%. This, combined with the inability to export all harvests and cover production costs, has left some farms operating at a loss.

The Ukrainian government intends to work on finding new export routes through rail, road, or Danube ports but acknowledges that this won't be a permanent solution. With the EU providing less assistance than during the 2022 invasion, and Russia continuously attacking rail infrastructure, Ukraine's export strategies will require a major rethink.