Ukraine hopes for FAO's support to extend Istanbul grain deal - Economy Ministry

MOSCOW. Nov 7 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian government and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has signed an agreement establishing the organization's project office in Ukraine to assist the country, in particular in extending the Istanbul grain deal on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian seaports.

The document was signed by Ukrainian First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yulia Sviridenko on behalf of the Ukrainian government and FAO Deputy Director-General Laurent Thomas on behalf of the FAO on November 4, Ukrainian media reported citing the website of the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy.

"Thanks to FAO's implementation of a rapid response plan in Ukraine, the Ukrainian agricultural production and export capacity is recovering. And the lives of the persons aided by the FAO are improving, as well. I am convinced that with the opening of the project office, cooperation between the FAO and Ukraine, which has lasted for many years, will gain new momentum," Sviridenko is quoted by the Economy Ministry as saying.

"This agreement will extend our cooperation in the country, increase Ukraine's agricultural capacity and ensure the food security of every vulnerable Ukrainian," Thomas said.

FAO and the Ukrainian government with the financial assistance from Japan, Canada and the Australian philanthropic organization Minderoo Foundation are implementing the Grain Storage Support Strategy, which aims to assist farmers with temporary crop storage facilities and maintain Ukraine's export potential at a high level, the ministry said. The strategy envisions the supply of grain storage sleeves, loading and unloading equipment, and modular grain storage facilities to Ukrainian farmers, it said. The strategy envisages storage of at least 4.07 million tonnes of grain, or 25% of the total domestic needs, it said.

Additionally, FAO helps small farmers with winter wheat seeds, providing farmers with 5,000 tonnes of seeds for the 2023 harvest, it said. Since the start of the crisis, FAO has provided tens of thousands of Ukrainian producers with emergency agricultural assistance and supported rural households with vouchers for the purchase of agricultural production equipment and tools, the ministry said.

In total, FAO plans to raise $180.4 million for the implementation of the Rapid Response Plan in Ukraine and the Grain Storage Support Strategy, it said.