A safe field is a guarantee of a harvest: how the state helps farmers to clear land mines
28 April 21:57
Ukrainian farmers have received an important tool in the fight for their future: The Ministry of Economy has unveiled a website where farmers can quickly and easily apply for participation in the state program to compensate for the cost of demining agricultural land. A simple interface, step-by-step instructions, and eligibility checks are all in one place to speed up the process and minimize mistakes, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports, citing information from the ministry.
The launch of the platform is not just another “tick” in the report. This is the first step in a large-scale information campaign aimed at saving thousands of hectares of fertile land. The state once again emphasizes that every hectare matters, every farmer’s life is priceless.
“The government is interested in returning the land to cultivation as soon as possible. For the second year in a row, the state has allocated UAH 3 billion for field cleanup, but farmers’ activity has decreased – because of the sowing campaign, because of distrust, because of lack of information. We are not waiting, we are acting,” said Deputy Minister of Economy Ihor Bezkaravaynyi.
In his turn, UNDP Program Manager Benjamin Lark emphasized that the success of the program depends not only on funding but also on cooperation. UNDP’s Mine Action Program, the Humanitarian Demining Center, and financial support from the Republic of Korea are allies that help Ukrainian farmers return to their land.
“We are working to ensure that farmers have the knowledge and resources to safely cultivate their fields,” he said.
The information campaign goes out into the fields: meetings with farmers, booklets in communities, and direct consultations. It’s not just about the economy, it’s about human lives. Since the beginning of the war, more than 200 people have been injured by explosive devices during field work.
The problems remain. Since the beginning of the year, farmers have submitted 228 applications for compensation, but 191 have been rejected. The most common reason is the lack of a non-technical survey of the land plot. To remedy this, the Humanitarian Demining Center and the Ministry of Economy are now working to engage operators to survey farms in the frontline regions, at state or donor expense.
“The most common reason for refusing farmers is the failure to conduct a non-technical survey on the land plots on which they work. There were 102 such applications this year. That is why this year the Center for Humanitarian Demining in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and local military administrations is working to engage operators to conduct non-technical surveys on farmland in the frontline regions. This can be done either with donor funds or at the expense of the state, or by paying for such work yourself,” said Volodymyr Baida, director of the Center for Humanitarian Demining.
The data speaks for itself: in 2024, 50 out of 195 applications for demining more than 9,600 hectares were approved. This year, there have been only 15 auctions, covering 4.4 thousand hectares. The resources are there, the tools are in place, and now it’s time for trust and active participation of farmers.
Read also: Ukrainian farmers received 1100 hectares of safe land – how the demining program works
State program of compensation for farmers for humanitarian land demining: frequently asked questions
How to apply for participation in the program
An application for participation in the state program of compensation for the cost of demining must be submitted through the State Agrarian Register. Create a personal account on the website of the State Agrarian Register (SAR).
To sign an application for participation in the state program, you must have a digital signature. It can be generated through Diia or, for example, in the state-owned Privatbank.
The application is submitted, what’s next?
- Approval and account opening. If you receive a response about the approval of your application, you must open an escrow account in one of the state-owned banks participating in the program within five days. This account will later be used to transfer money for demining services. However, farmers cannot receive the money in person. They will be paid to the operator after the demining work is completed.
- Announcement of an auction in the Prozorro system and signing a contract with the winner. Within three days after opening an account, the Humanitarian Demining Center announces an auction in the Prozorro system for the purchase of services for demining your site. The operator who offers the lowest price will win. You can watch the bidding process live. If the operator meets all the conditions, the Center signs an agreement with them to clear your land. You will receive a notification about the signed demining agreement in the electronic cabinet of the State Agency of Ukraine for Research and Development.
- Mine clearance of the site. After concluding the agreement, the mine action operator starts working directly on the field. He is interested in clearing the site as soon as possible and doing it efficiently, as his earnings depend on it. The MAC will check whether the land has been cleared of mines and other explosive devices. It is the center that provides a certificate of transfer of responsibility for the cleared area or a letter of guarantee for the area released after a non-technical survey.
- The site is demined. If the operator has done his job well and this is confirmed by the CPMD, the farmer can start working on the cleared field, and the operator receives the amount of the cost of demining from a special account.
Can a farmer apply for demining his land as a sole proprietor?
No, only legal entities or individual entrepreneurs can participate in the compensation program.
Until when can I apply for participation in the program?
Until December 25 of the current year. If you apply before December 5, your application will be considered within the current budget program. If you apply after December 5, it will be considered in the next budget year.
Is there a chance that my application may not be considered due to proximity to the combat zone?
Yes, there is such a possibility. The Center for Mine Action decides whether safe clearance is possible at each site submitted for participation in the program. If there is a danger, the MAC provides a corresponding conclusion.
Which banks participate in the program of compensation for the cost of demining agricultural land?
The following state-owned banks participate in the program: PrivatBank, Oschadbank, Ukrgasbank, and Sens Bank.
