09/08/2022 Ucraina (Україна), Oblast’ di Odessa (Одеська область-Odes’ka oblast’), Odessa (Одеса)
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Until the beginning of the war at the end of February, Ukraine was one of the world’s most important wheat producers. Many countries, for example in North Africa, are dependent on the harvest in the east of the country. Because of the Russian war of aggression, agricultural exports via the Black Sea ports were blocked for months. The first ship loaded with grain was only able to leave the port of Odessa at the beginning of August. It was escorted through the mines protecting the harbor and past Russian warships. The next three ships followed on Friday. The deliveries should make tens of millions of tons of grain available again for the world market. That is why the opening of the shipping lanes was described as a glimmer of hope. On the one hand, the impending hunger crisis should be prevented, on the other hand, the exports also help Ukraine. Because the agricultural industry is an important cornerstone of the local economy.
Reuters/State Emergency Service Of Ukraine
The danger of encountering rocket parts or mines during harvest is high
With a quick harvest, farmers are now trying to earn enough so that the next sowing can be secured. Everything that was missed because of the war in the past few months must be made up for. But that turns out to be anything but easy. Because the important export agreement has solved the problem of delivery by sea. However, the work in the field faces many risks and dangers because of the acts of war.
Farmers harvest for survival
So today many fields are in areas conquered by Russian troops. Other fields have been littered with unexploded war munitions in recent months. Pictures and videos, which are also circulating on social networks, show how rocket parts are lifted out of the field and how fire destroys the grain. In addition, many working machines are unusable. The damage in the agricultural sector runs into billions, according to several institutes.
Grain Harvest in Wartime
Until the beginning of the war at the end of February, Ukraine was one of the world’s most important wheat producers. Many countries, for example in North Africa, are dependent on the harvest in the east of the country. After the resumption of grain exports via the Black Sea, the Ukrainian government has raised its harvest forecast by around ten percent. Despite the ongoing war, 65 to 67 million tons of grain and oilseeds are expected. Twelve million have already been retracted – under extremely dangerous conditions. Added to this is inflation, which is also affecting Ukrainian farmers. According to the Financial Times, repeated Russian attacks on Ukraine’s main oil refinery in Kremenchuk have doubled the price of diesel. Diesel is considered an important fuel for farmers. Fertilizer costs have also increased by 40 percent. Russia is one of the most important exporters of potassium and phosphorus fertilizers – which of course also affects Ukraine. These costs are an additional burden for farmers.
Reuters/State Emergency Service Of Ukraine
Because of the war, parts of the grain fields also burn down. The harvest itself is dangerous. Many do not know how to do this. “I have 1,000 hectares of wheat and barley that I don’t know how to harvest,” a Ukrainian farmer told National Public Radio (NPR) in July. “If I put combine harvesters and tractors to work, the drivers could blow up because there are still some shells in the fields.”
No other choice
However, many Ukrainians take the risk because they have no other choice. The crop is sown in early autumn and must be harvested in time in summer. Despite the proximity of the front and the fire, farmers sit on their tractors or combine harvesters and ship the grain to temporary storage facilities. The groceries are then shipped via the ports in the south of the country. Transportation by land is more expensive and takes longer. There is also a lack of infrastructure and means of transport.
Reuters
The harvest must be brought in in order to have space and money for the new seed. Even before the Black Sea shipping routes were opened, farmers and Ukrainian soldiers had spoken of a form of economic sabotage by the Russian army. Agricultural vehicles are being increasingly targeted, the Ukrainian military said. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Agriculture, wheat, barley and sunflowers have been hit the hardest because they are grown near the hostilities. In the New York Times, a military official drew a comparison to the Holodomor famine in the 1930s that killed millions. “They used to confiscate the grain, now they burn it,” the soldier is quoted as saying. However, random destruction also occurs, for example when Russian missiles are aimed at military targets, but fields then catch fire. Many farmers had already brought their families to safety before the harvest
Фото Джерело: california18.com
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