The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) have signed a USD 10 million agreement to finance a programme aimed at supporting rural communities in Ukraine affected by landmine contamination and explosive remnants of war.

The programme is implemented by FAO in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and will cover frontline regions in southern and eastern Ukraine. It is expected to assist more than 3,500 rural households and around 100 small farmers who have lost the ability to safely cultivate land and restore production due to mine contamination.

The joint initiative provides a full cycle of support – from land clearance to the restoration of agricultural production. FAO will deliver geospatial analysis, soil assessments, land rehabilitation and production recovery. Meanwhile, WFP will conduct technical surveys and land clearance operations. This cooperation ensures a safe and coordinated transition from demining to the full resumption of land cultivation by communities.

“For Ukraine, demining agricultural land is directly linked to economic recovery and food security, and remains critically important. This programme will not only return land to productive use but also ensure long-term support for our farmers, who face the daily challenges of war. Investments in demining and land rehabilitation are investments in the country’s food security and the resilience of rural communities,” noted Denys Bashlyk, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine.

Ukraine remains one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world, with an area of up to 138.5 thousand km² potentially affected. Mine contamination restricts access to land, reduces production capacity and slows down the recovery of rural economies. This makes international support essential for restoring safe land use and protecting national food production.

Under the programme, geospatial mapping of damaged and contaminated land will be carried out, comprehensive soil testing conducted, and the capacity of local institutions and young specialists in land rehabilitation strengthened. Farmers and rural households will also receive resources, equipment and construction materials through a voucher mechanism, enabling them to restart agricultural production on safe territories.

Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development, stressed that the partnership with FAO reflects a shared commitment to supporting farming communities in Ukraine. The programme will restore safe access to agricultural land, enable thousands of families to return to production, and strengthen food security and economic recovery.

For reference 

This programme continues FAO’s extensive support to Ukraine’s agricultural sector since 2022, including emergency assistance, coordination of mine action, land rehabilitation, production recovery and restoration of critical rural infrastructure.