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FARMERHOOD charity project starts in Ukraine and the US on aid to farmers affected by war
19 May 2023, 11:18
FARMERHOOD is a long-term donation project designed to help Ukrainian farmers in war-torn areas as they struggle to maintain their business operations and workforce, as well as restore their facilities and homes.
The Project speaks of the essence of brother & sisterhood in agriculture, based on the same calling, the spirit of unity and integrity, companionship, and mutual support.
The international and national leaders have come together in FARMERHOOD. The Project is co-founded with DAR Ukrainian charitable foundation, Alight international charitable foundation, Syngenta, Feodal, EarthDaily Agro and Kernel Trade, as well as supported by partners such as Growex, Agrilab, OKKO, Epicenter, Baker Tilly, YouСontrol, Arriba!, Zeep, and Latifundist Media Holding.
The Project focuses on Ukrainian farmers with a landbank of up to 1,200 acres (500 ha) located in the regions impacted by war. The registration and donation platform is open to UA farmers, US farm cooperatives and growers’ organizations. More information on how to get help is here https://farmerhood.org/.
Inessa Kravchenko Vourey, EAME Business Head at Earth Daily Agro, says: ‘We just could not stand watching Ukrainian villages being ruined and farms destroyed, and the richest soil that feeds 400 m people worldwide, going ravaged. We stepped up. This is an ambitious charity initiative that is driven by a strong feeling of comradery and solidarity within a farmer community not only in Ukraine and the USA but all around the globe.’
Roman Khrypko, Agronomic Risk Mitigation Lead at Syngenta Ukraine, says: ‘At Syngenta, we are deeply committed to providing aid and support to the farmers in Ukraine, who, despite all horrors of war, continue their mission in the fields. Our common goal is not only to help them grow sustainably at times of uncertainty but also to cultivate resilience and hope in their communities. We believe the Project will power the recovery and renewal of agriculture in Ukraine, and we are most honoured to stand beside our farmers now and beyond.’
FARMERHOOD is a credible platform that offers Ukrainian farmers what they now most need under five donation options:
- Agricultural inputs such as seeds and crop protection products
- Precision farming services to improve the efficiency of the use of limited resources
- Fuel voucher to help run field operations
- Reparation voucher to help repair farm facilities
- Cash to partially cover farmworkers’ salary, land share costs, and other farm needs in regions with constrained logistics
Andriy Demianovych, CEO of Feodal, says: ‘Together with our partners, we have created a transparent and reliable tool that will allow foreign colleagues to help Ukrainian farmers through a convenient digital platform. It is not the first charity project Feodal team has been involved in. Today we are glad to have another opportunity to support Ukrainian agricultural producers. We provide a technological solution for the project and act as a critical filter in processing and verifying applications.’
Donors can be sure their funds will be delivered to the recipients. With just a few clicks on the digital platform, Ukrainian farmers can apply for program registration, whereas foreign peers can easily go to the donation button and select a relevant charity category and farmers they wish to help.
Kateryna Konashchuk, Project Lead at DAR, says: ‘Every partner has got their tasks and a roadmap to deliver a project. Alight International Foundation collects funds from foreign farmers and corporate donors, generates tax bills, and transfers funds transfers to the DAR foundation in Ukraine, which manages accruals processes and transfers help directly to Ukrainian farmers. Supported by SigmaBleyzer International Investment company, DAR has been providing the most necessary charitable assistance in accordance with legal and ethical requirements and financial reporting for all projects in which the Foundation was directly involved.’
Kernel Trade, the world's leading and Ukraine’s largest producer and exporter of sunflower oil, and other ag produce raised funds to support FARMERHOOD.
Oleksandr Golovin, Procurement and Commercial Operations Head at Kernel Trade, says: 'The war has united people, businesses, and countries for a common goal. Since the first days of the full-scale invasion, Kernel has been helping the Armed Forces and Ukrainians. Ukrainian agricultural producers need support now more than ever before. As a major market player, we recognize our responsibility for the industry development at the macro level and more, so we are joining the Project to help restore the lost potential of Ukrainian agriculture and provide the sector with new touch points of support.’
FARMERHOOD aims to help Ukrainian farmers start rebuilding and continue producing grain and oil crops, and vegetables now, also supporting them in the long term. The founders hope the Project will prove to be a success and become a large-scale program for Ukraine's agricultural sector recovery after the war, with the further involvement of many other corporate agricultural leaders, banks, traders, and business associations.