Ukrainian agroproducers greatly depend on foreign markets not only as the destination for their products but also as the source of diesel, mineral fertilizers, pesticides, and seeds as these products are not produced within the country. The war has disrupted the established supply chains for many goods, and farmers found themselves under the conditions of shortages in most, usually abundant resources needed for their production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From the first day of the war, Russian has blocked all Ukrainian seaports \u2013 the usual route for bulk goods (like fertilizers and grain) exports and imports, effectively halting exports of agricultural products (including grain) while mainland-based logistics into Ukraine were significantly reoriented to provide humanitarian and military aid, reducing imports of many resources into the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That in the weeks of war many warehouses and fuel storage facilities have been destroyed, reducing the availability of mineral fertilizers, pesticides, and high-quality seeds (in particular, certified as diseases resistant to diseases) further. Shortage of fertilizers and pesticides together with the inability to timely work the land for conventional agricultural practices significantly increases the risks of crop failure due to a lack of resources to combat soil degradation or control pests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition, the irrigation on which many of the agroproducers (especially in water-deficient dry steppe regions) depend heavily may not be limited due to power shortages or physical damage to the irrigation system. Coupled with difficulties in access and up-to-date weather forecasts in the conditions of frequent power cuts due to shelling or problems with internet access, that all increases risk of crop failure further.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first that comes to mind is no-till technology, which, according to experts, requires up to three times less work on fields, therefore reducing resource use as well as the costs of the production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Further, no-till methods facilitate soil restoration, improve soil fertility and its ability to hold water, and reduce wind and water erosion, contributing into a reduction of reliance on fertilizers and irrigation and producing more stable and drought-resistant yields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Among other alternatives are polyculture cultivation to maintain soil quality, organic farming, where mineral fertilizers and synthetic pesticides are not used, and agroforestry cultivation, where agricultural plants (grain or vegetables) grown among trees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Such methods have a number of advantages: reduction of soil erosion, reduction in reliance on irrigation, mineral fertilizers and pesticides use, stable and more predictable yields, and increased drought resistance, etc. In addition, tree growths in agricultural landscapes can provide shelter not only for wildlife and pollinators but also for local people and territorial defense forces from the enemy during wartime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Olga Ignatenko, Information Center \u201cGreen Dossier\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2397,"template":"","news-rubrics":[45,67],"class_list":["post-2420","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-rubrics-agriculture-en","news-rubrics-chronicles-of-war-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n