The Ukrainian Agri Council (UAC) announces the launch of a new large-scale project to support Ukrainian agricultural producers from affected regions in partnership with the international humanitarian organization MERCY CORPS.

The goal of the project is to provide farmers with access to high-quality consulting services, increase competitiveness, financial literacy, and the sustainability of personal peasant farms (PPFs) and micro, small, and medium-sized agricultural enterprises by creating a comprehensive professional support system that includes legal, financial, and accounting advice, support for agricultural producers in implementing innovative agricultural technologies in animal husbandry, educational events, information and analytical support, research, and solving pressing problems in the sector.

The participation of UAС experts in the project will ensure professional advocacy of the interests of agricultural producers at the legislative level and the development of a sustainable model of agribusiness consulting integrated into the European AKIS knowledge system, where Ukrainian farmers will be able to use the best practices, technologies, and experience of EU countries.

"Small and medium-sized agricultural producers working in frontline areas and areas affected by full-scale invasion face constant challenges: from loss of property and infrastructure to logistics constraints, lack of finance, and rapid changes in legislation. They often do not have their own specialists and experience a significant lack of professional support. Our project will help them quickly navigate legal and financial issues, reduce the risk of mistakes and losses, and open the way to state and international programs for support and restoration of farms. In turn, this will support the economic recovery of rural communities and preserve life in Ukrainian villages," comments Ruslan Kalnytskyy, Project Manager and legal advisor to the UAC.

The project covers the entire territory of Ukraine, with a focus on the regions most affected by the war: Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, Odesa, Kyiv, Poltava, Cherkasy, and Kirovohrad regions.

The project plans to provide support to at least 2,000 agricultural producers, most of which work in frontline or severely affected communities. Assistance to such farms is critical to maintaining Ukraine's food security, the stability of local economies, and the recovery of rural areas.

The UAC expresses its gratitude to its partners for their support and is confident that the implementation of the project will be a powerful tool for the sustainability and development of Ukrainian agricultural producers.

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MERCY CORPS is an international humanitarian organization that works in more than 40 countries around the world and provides assistance to people suffering from disasters, wars, poverty, and the effects of climate change.