Agricultural production is gradually returning to de-occupied areas of southern Ukraine. In Mykolaiv region, farmers have begun restoring orchards and bringing de-mined land back into cultivation as part of the “Roots of Peace” project, according to EastFruit citing SEEDS.
The initiative was implemented within a programme of the United Nations Development Programme with financial support from the government of Sweden. The project aims to support the recovery of agricultural activity in communities affected by the war.
As part of the initiative, a local agricultural cooperative received a specialised orchard tractor equipped with attachments including a sprayer, mulcher and soil cultivator. The machinery allows farmers to mechanise field operations and efficiently manage more than 10 hectares of orchards, significantly improving labour productivity and reducing manual workload.
“When we first visited the de-mined fields, it became clear that without modern machinery farmers would simply not be able to work the land effectively. Mechanisation has become a key factor in restoring agricultural production,” said Heorhii Molchanov, head of the Association of Craft Winemakers of the Black Sea Region.
Beyond technical support, the project also focuses on strengthening local communities. Women, war veterans and internally displaced persons were involved in both training and agricultural work. Specialists organised practical training sessions on the safe and effective use of agricultural equipment.
“For us, it was important not only to provide the equipment but also to teach people how to operate it safely and efficiently. Investments in knowledge often deliver a greater impact than equipment alone,” Molchanov added.
As a next step, the association plans to establish a specialised cluster together with scientific institutions. The initiative is expected to unite resources and expertise to support the development of viticulture across Ukraine’s Black Sea region while contributing to the long-term recovery of the local agricultural sector.
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