The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has issued an appeal to bolster agriculture and provide urgent support to vulnerable rural households in Ukraine.

More than $115 million is urgently needed to assist Ukrainian farmers and rural households through to December 2022, the FAO has said. This renewed appeal has more than doubled the FAO's appeal of $50 million to support 376,660 small- and medium-sized farming households, or almost one million people.

This is required to prevent a further deterioration of the food insecurity situation and worsening of the disruption of food supply chains in Ukraine, according to the FAO.

It said that urgency is required to support Ukrainian farmers in planting vegetables and potatoes during this spring season, as well as aiding them to save their winter wheat harvest.

“FAO’s immediate concern is to support the ongoing spring-planting season and to prevent the disruption of the upcoming winter crop harvesting, which typically occurs in June-July, and could severely threaten food security in the country. Agriculture depends on seasons. There is no time to waste to get ready for the upcoming fall season,” he said.

Agriculture is central to Ukraine’s economy, playing a key role in protecting food security and livelihoods across the country, as well as the region. The vast destruction of crops and infrastructure due to the war jeopardises food production and food security, the FAO said.

It estimates that one third of the crops and agricultural land may not be harvested or cultivated in 2022.

The forced displacement of civilian populations fleeing the war and the conscription of men into territorial defence forces are resulting in labour shortages and an increased burden on women.

This situation is exacerbated by a decrease in the access and availability of crucial agricultural inputs.

Preliminary data collected by FAO, through ongoing assessments, demonstrates that farmers at all levels need cash to procure inputs and services for food production and to maintain their farming operations.

The impacts of the war in Ukraine necessitate a large-scale expansion of FAO activities and technical support across the country, the organisation has said:

FAO’s funding to date is of $8.5 million to reach 70,941 people with livelihoods support. It comprises FAO funds and contributions from resource partners including Japan, Belgium, the European Union, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA).