Ukraine has already sown 15% of the planned area. Serhii Ivashchuk, a member of the Board of the Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC), told us about the prospects for the third year of the war and the urgent problems facing farmers this year.

"Speaking of the current sowing season, the issue of mobilization is one of the most pressing in Western Ukraine. We need to make a quick decision on who to replace the mobilized agricultural workers. Economists, engineers and programmers are getting behind tractors to ensure the sowing season, as 64% of employees at my company have been mobilized," said Sergii Ivashchuk.

The problems of the sowing season vary greatly by region, with the most difficult situation in the de-occupied and frontline areas.

"In the west of the country, the main problems are mobilization and sales. As for the east, south and north, the consequences of hostilities, constant risks of shelling, the need for demining, and lack of working capital are added to the mix. The government's 5-7-9 loan program helps us a lot, although the interest on loans has been raised to 13%. The program allows us to carry out the sowing season, as exports to the EU are very difficult to logistically access, with limited traffic through Poland and Hungary. Despite the fact that we can grow and sell it, there is a problem of funds. Wheat was unprofitable this season: we invested UAH 45,000 per hectare and received UAH 40,000 per hectare. Although there was a record wheat harvest - we got 8 tons per hectare, and at the same time, we lost UAH 5,000 per hectare. Only now the price has started to rise, but the harvest has already been sold. Corn is also unprofitable," said the UAC Board Member.

Farmers are trying to optimize their planted areas and crop structure to partially offset the rise in fuel and fertilizer prices.

"We have enough fuel, but its price has doubled. We are applying half as much fertilizer, as complex fertilizers cost UAH 35,000 per ton, while before the war they cost UAH 12,000 per ton. We are trying to optimize the area and structure of crops. This season, only soybeans were profitable because there is a shortage of soybeans in the EU. We are moving in this direction. I believe that we will have a good harvest and reasonable prices, as Ukrainian farmers ensure food security and feed the Armed Forces," summarized Serhii Ivashchuk.