In 2025, along with military risks, unfavorable weather became a real challenge for the agricultural sector. Large-scale crop losses have been recorded in the liberated areas of Kherson region. According to the Ukrainian Agri Council, crops worth more than UAH 1 billion have been destroyed on an area of over 55,000 hectares of agricultural land.

Will this affect the country's food security, and what support do those affected want and can they receive from the state? Participants of the Ukrainian Agri Council from Kherson region told ‘Ekonomichna Pravda’ Publucation.

The Zlato Tavrii Farm, owned by Ihor Yosypenko and located in Beryslav district, suffered particular damage.

“Our farm has suffered significant losses due to prolonged natural anomalies: spring frosts, critical drought, and soil moisture deficiency. These factors were exacerbated by limited access to irrigation due to the destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant,” Yosypenko said.

According to him, more than 1,900 hectares of early grain and oil crops have been completely destroyed at the enterprise, which is 30% of all winter crops. Almost 200 hectares of barley, 1,400 hectares of wheat, and 300 hectares of rapeseed have been lost.

The bad weather also affected the land of Viktor Derkach's “Berehynia” enterprise in Kherson region. The company grows winter wheat, sunflowers, winter and spring barley, rapeseed, and this year added peas and flax to the crop rotation. The farmer says that this season they sowed 1,600 hectares of wheat, 150 hectares of barley, and 150 hectares of peas. However, drought and spring frosts destroyed 30% of the crops, while other fields suffered 50-60% damage.

“The fallow fields, where nothing was grown after demining, are in slightly better condition. We expected to harvest 50-60 centners of grain per hectare there, but we will only get 30-35 centners,” said Derkach.

According to him, the losses of winter wheat amount to UAH 12,0000-15,000 per hectare, depending on the fertilizers and seeds used. The losses of barley amount to 10,000-12,000 UAH per hectare, and peas – 10,000 UAH.

“Another problem is appearing: we had almost no rain in May and June. Fortunately, there are no critical temperatures, but there is still no moisture in the soil. This is affecting sunflower and spring barley crops,” the farmer emphasized.

Given the critical nature of the situation, 20 agricultural associations have appealed to the government for support in the form of payments per hectare. The Ministry of Agrarian Policy responded that there are no funds for this in the state budget, but farmers have access to a preferential lending program “5-7-9%.” It also applies to businesses in frontline territories.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also announced that he had tasked the Ministry of Agrarian Policy with developing a compensation mechanism for farmers who independently restore irrigation systems, similar to the compensation for demining.

Despite the difficulties, the agricultural sector in Kherson region is not giving up. “We are already preparing for the 2025-2026 sowing season, which will start in less than two months. How and what to sow is still an open question, but we are confident that we will sow,” Yosypenko concluded.