Thomas Lyons 
The Irish government, through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), has pledged €45,000 to support potato farmers in Ukraine. The funding will go to an initiative run by the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), which aims to distribute seed potatoes to 10,000 small-holder farmers in the country. The project will see 500 tonnes of certified seed potatoes transported to Ukraine, where they will be distributed to “highly vulnerable small-holders” in rural areas close to the frontline of the Russian aggression. Each farmer will receive approximately 50kg worth of produce.
The seed potatoes have been grown in the Netherlands and France by growers for Irish company IPM Potato Ltd. They were cultivated especially for the agri-ecological conditions in Ukraine. The DAFM has stated that the project will complement the supports for small-holder poultry production in Ukraine funded by the government and the department last year. The announcement was made by Minister Charlie McConalogue on Monday, April 10. He emphasised the importance of agriculture to both Ireland and Ukraine, and said he was delighted to support the project.
Ukraine is one of the top five potato producers in the world, with most of its production being small-holder farmer based. However, since the country was invaded by Russia in February 2022, the normal structures of seed potato supply have been disrupted, and the imports of certified seed input stocks have been severely hampered. The volume of potatoes being distributed has the potential to produce up to 7,000 tonnes of ware potatoes, which will yield stock for the average annual consumption of potatoes for up to 50,000 people per annum.
Minister McConalogue stated that the FAO project will support efforts to build back agricultural capacity and assist rural families to resume production for their own household consumption, and in doing so, meet their immediate food needs. The project is part of a wider scheme by the FAO to provide support to potato farmers in Ukraine. The funding from the DAFM will be used to purchase seed potatoes, transport them to Ukraine, and distribute them to small-holder farmers.
This initiative is a positive step towards supporting small-holder farmers in Ukraine, who have been struggling to maintain their livelihoods since the Russian invasion. The project will provide them with the necessary resources to resume potato production, which is a crucial part of their agricultural economy. The FAO and the Irish government have shown their commitment to supporting these farmers, and it is hoped that this project will have a positive impact on their lives and the wider Ukrainian economy.
In conclusion, the Irish government’s funding of €45,000 for the FAO project to support potato farmers in Ukraine is a welcome development. The project will provide much-needed support to small-holder farmers who have been struggling since the Russian invasion. The seed potatoes, grown specifically for the agri-ecological conditions in Ukraine, will be distributed to highly vulnerable small-holders in rural areas close to the frontline of the Russian aggression. This initiative is part of a wider scheme by the FAO to provide support to potato farmers in Ukraine, and it is hoped that it will have a positive impact on their lives and the wider Ukrainian economy.
