The funds will go to support rural communities in Ukraine affected by landmine contamination and the consequences of Russian aggression, the Embassy of Ukraine in Qatar reported.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the Doha Forum 2025. The programme will cover frontline regions in southern and eastern Ukraine, where thousands of hectares of land remain too dangerous to farm.
Who will receive support
Under the project plan, more than 3500 rural families and around 100 small farms will receive support. Because of the mine threat, these people have lost the ability to work their own land safely and restore production.
The programme is being implemented by FAO together with the UN World Food Programme. FAO will handle geospatial analysis, soil assessment, land rehabilitation and the restoration of production, while WFP will carry out technical surveys and demining operations. This cooperation is designed to ensure a safe transition from land clearance to the full return of land to cultivation.
From demining to harvest
The project provides a full cycle of support. First, contaminated areas will be geospatially mapped and soils comprehensively tested. Then the capacity of local institutions and young specialists in land rehabilitation will be strengthened.
Farmers and households will receive inputs, equipment and building materials in the form of vouchers, allowing them to rebuild their farms on land that has been made safe.
“For Ukraine, demining agricultural land is closely tied to economic recovery and food security,” said Deputy Minister of Economy Denys Bashlyk. Investment in demining and land rehabilitation, he said, is investment in the food security of the whole country and the resilience of rural communities.
The scale of the problem
Ukraine remains one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. Potentially contaminated territory covers up to 138,500 square kilometres. The mine threat restricts access to land, reduces production capacity and slows the recovery of the rural economy.
Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development, stressed that the partnership with FAO reflects a shared commitment to supporting Ukraine’s farming communities. Thanks to the programme, thousands of families will be able to return to production, strengthening food security and economic recovery.
The programme builds on the broad support FAO has provided to Ukraine’s agricultural sector since 2022 — from emergency assistance to coordinating mine action and restoring critical rural infrastructure.
