Ministry of Economy, Centre for Humanitarian Demining and UNDP Ukraine launch information campaign for farmers
The Ministry of Economy of Ukraine has launched a website for farmers seeking to participate in the state programme for compensating the costs of demining agricultural land. The site consolidates all key information, enabling farmers to check eligibility in a few steps and providing detailed instructions on how to apply via the State Agrarian Register. The website launch marks the first phase of an information campaign aimed at increasing farmer participation in the programme and improving the quality of submitted applications.
“The Government is keen to return war-affected lands to use as quickly as possible. For the second year running, UAH 3 billion has been allocated to the agricultural land demining programme. Currently, we’re seeing slightly lower activity compared to last year. We understand this is partly due to the ongoing busy sowing season, with farmers focused on other priorities. However, we’re not just standing by – we’re acting proactively. Our campaign aims to reach every farmer in frontline regions, ensuring they know about the programme and what steps to take to have their lands demined at state expense, allowing them to work safely,” said Deputy Minister of Economy Ihor Bezkaravainyi.
According to Ben Lark, UNDP Ukraine’s Mine Action Programme Manager, UNDP is proud to support this vital initiative, which addresses the devastating impact of explosive ordnance on Ukraine’s agricultural sector. In collaboration with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Centre for Humanitarian Demining, and with financial support from the Republic of Korea, efforts are being made to provide farmers with the necessary knowledge and resources to safely cultivate their land, thereby contributing to the country’s recovery and resilience.
The safety of farmers remains a state priority. Demining fields not only restores land for use but also saves the lives of those working in these areas. According to the IMSMA information system, since the start of the full-scale invasion, 200 people have been injured by explosive ordnance during fieldwork, with fatalities and damaged equipment reported. This underscores the critical importance of professional land clearance before seasonal work begins.
As of 22 April, under the state compensation programme for demining agricultural land, farmers submitted 228 applications, of which 191 were rejected. This year, 15 auctions for demining services have been held, totalling UAH 299.1 million for 4,413.9 hectares. In contrast, last year, 50 out of 195 applications were approved, covering over 9,600 hectares, with contracts worth UAH 536.6 million.
“The most common reason for rejecting farmers’ applications is the lack of non-technical surveys on their land. This year, 102 such applications were declined. That’s why the Centre for Humanitarian Demining, in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and local military administrations, is working to engage operators to conduct non-technical surveys on farmers’ lands in frontline regions. This can be funded by donors, the state, or the farmers themselves,” said Volodymyr Baida, Director of the Centre for Humanitarian Demining.
The information campaign also includes meetings with farmers in frontline regions and the distribution of informational booklets about the programme in war-affected communities.
The communication campaign to promote the state programme for compensating demining costs was developed by the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine, the Demine Ukraine platform, and the Centre for Humanitarian Demining, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine and funding from the Republic of Korea.