Global Farmer Network member Marcus Holtkoetter, Germany recently visited fellow GFN member Kees Huizinga on his farm in Ukraine. What he found was both inspiring and sobering.
As Kees guided Marcus through fields ready for harvest, he pointed out areas that remain inaccessible due to unexploded missiles and other remnants of war. Crops stand ready, but some areas cannot be safely entered, forcing him to leave that portion of the field unharvested.
Despite these dangers, Ukrainian farmers continue producing food for their country and the world. Their resilience is remarkable, but the long-term challenges are growing. Ukraine's economy relies heavily on agriculture, with roughly 80 percent of its production destined for export markets.
"If the current hazards persist, farmers will start to go bankrupt," says Huizinga. "Maybe that's the point."
For Ukrainian farmers, the harvest is not just a season. It is an act of perseverance in the face of ongoing uncertainty.
