USAID AGRI-Ukraine draws $860 mln in 2 years to support Ukrainian agrarians

MOSCOW. July 31 (Interfax) - The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has drawn over $510 million from the private sector and international donors through the Agriculture Resilience Initiative AGRI-Ukraine within two years to support Ukrainian agrarians, and the U.S. government invested another $350 million in the program, Ukrainian media said, citing the donor's statement.

"Since July of 2022, AGRI-Ukraine has helped more than 14,000 Ukrainian farmers - or 32 percent of the country's registered farmers - receive seeds, fertilizers, crop protection, storage, and financing to produce their harvests. Seeds distributed through AGRI-Ukraine are expected to catalyze production of an additional 430,000 tonnes of corn and sunflower, worth over $90 million in revenue for Ukrainian farmers," the statement said.

The $510 million in private sector and donor investments surpassed the Agency's initial goal by threefold, the donor said.

In 2023, AGRI-Ukraine expanded its partners, which now include contributions from 26 additional Ukrainian agricultural companies, U.S.-based Gowan Seed company, as well as international financial institutions, such as the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, and the governments of South Korea and Japan.

"USAID and its partners remain committed to supporting Ukraine's agricultural sector and exports," it said.