The return of agricultural production to areas affected by hostilities has become one of the priority tasks for the state and international partners. According to experts, significant areas of agricultural land in Ukraine still remain potentially contaminated with mines and other explosive objects. To address this issue, the Ukrainian government has launched a mechanism to compensate for the costs of demining farmland.
Demining Compensation: New Opportunities for Farmers
Participation in the demining program opens up a range of opportunities for farmers from the de-occupied territories after regaining access to the land. Firstly, it ensures the safety of people and machinery by eliminating deadly risks for workers and threats of losing expensive equipment costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. At the same time, it brings back to life land plots that would otherwise remain idle, allowing for production recovery, job retention, and ensuring a stable income for the farm.
Moreover, having official confirmation of the safety of the land is a significant advantage for further sale of products, especially for export, as the safety of origin is becoming an increasingly important criterion for consumers and trading partners.
The new program offers two support options for farmers:
Full compensation (100%) of demining costs for those who apply after April 15, 2024. The work will be carried out by a certified mine action operator.
Partial compensation (80%) for farmers who have already demined their land at their own expense between February 24, 2022, and April 15, 2024. To receive reimbursement, a complete set of supporting documents must be provided in accordance with current requirements.
Program Participation Conditions
The program sets clear criteria for participation:
The land is located outside the territories where hostilities are (were) taking place or temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation.
The land is likely contaminated/contaminated based on the results of non-technical survey.
The land is located outside the 20-kilometer zone from the border and the contact line.
The enterprise or individual does not have tax arrears (except for tax debt for land fee and single tax for group IV payers).
The enterprise or individual is not in the process of bankruptcy, liquidation, or termination of activities.
The ultimate owner of the farm is not a citizen of the aggressor state or occupying state, and/or a person who belongs or belonged to terrorist organizations.
The enterprise or individual is not under NSDC sanctions.
The agricultural producer is not affiliated with mine action operators who may demine the plot.
How to Apply
The application process is clearly explained and described on the information website: https://agro.demine.gov.ua/
The applicant needs to prepare documents confirming the right to use the land and the appropriate status of the economic entity.
The demining program is not just financial support but also a real opportunity to restore the potential of the Ukrainian agricultural sector in wartime conditions. By returning mined land to cultivation, we take an important step towards strengthening the country’s food security and reviving rural areas and regional communities.
Farmers are advised not to delay in submitting applications, as timely planning of the demining process will allow for a quicker return of the land to productive use.
For additional information and consultation on submitting an application, please refer to the official program website.