swiss logo photo
Leonid Tsentylo
Leonid TSENTYLO
[ region ]
Kyiv
15 / 02 / 2020
Farmer, Head of the “Kolos” company, Pustovarivka, Kyiv Region
[ topic ] Food Security and Organic Farming
Bank lending to agriculture has been minimal compared to market demand and has been limited to a few banks. These issues are the most acute for the micro, small and medium agricultural enterprises.

Swiss support has helped improve access to pre-harvest financing for small and medium farmers in all regions of the country, including the government-controlled areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. So far, banks have provided a total value of USD 1,1 billion in loans, of which, despite high risks, USD 27 million to the conflict-affected area.
Zero Hunger / 2
Decent Work and Economic Growth / 8
Ukraine is a resilient and hardworking nation. Each of the agricultural workers is the same warrior in the field as the defenders on the front line. Everyone's contribution plays an important role in ensuring the food security of the country and partner countries.It is probably the most difficult sowing season we ever had to carry out. The main problem consisted in the fuel shortage. We had to make many more adjustments because of the war. This year's costs of cultivating one hectare of land have increased significantly compared to the previous year. This year we used more organic fertilizers and used biological products of our own production, which allowed us to minimize the cost of this component. Sowing is going well, all things considered.
They say that Ukrainian soil is unique. Yet it has to be protected.
To supply world markets with Ukrainian grains is a global issue. Sea routes are closed and logistics chains are destroyed. 400 million people in the world are provided with food thanks to Ukraine. All these problems and the prospect of a protracted conflict are serious challenges for every agricultural worker, because we must somehow compensate for agricultural products that will not be produced this year. We will work to increase productivity with all the opportunities available to us. We are technologically ready. I believe that global partnership programs to support Ukraine can significantly alleviate the difficult financial situation of many farms.
Since 24th February 2022
Each of the agricultural workers is the same warrior in the field as the defenders on the front line. Everyone's contribution plays an important role in ensuring the food security of the country and partner countries. It is probably the most difficult sowing season we ever had to carry out. The main problem consisted in the fuel shortage. We had to make many more adjustments because of the war. This year's costs of cultivating one hectare of land have increased significantly compared to the previous year. This year we used more organic fertilizers and used biological products of our own production, which allowed us to minimize the cost of this component. Sowing is going well, all things considered.

To supply world markets with Ukrainian grains is a global issue. Sea routes are closed and logistics chains are destroyed. 400 million people in the world are provided with food thanks to Ukraine. All these problems and the prospect of a protracted conflict are serious challenges for every agricultural worker, because we must somehow compensate for agricultural products that will not be produced this year. We will work to increase productivity with all the opportunities available to us. We are technologically ready. I believe that global partnership programs to support Ukraine can significantly alleviate the difficult financial situation of many farms. 
Zero Hunger / 2
Decent Work and Economic Growth / 8
after
24 feb 2022
What else is Switzerland doing for Ukraine?
Switzerland has been assisting those impacted through various means – from humanitarian aid, humanitarian demining and financial support to granting protection status S to individuals from Ukraine seeking refuge. By 15 February 2024, the Swiss federal government had spent a total of around 3 billion Swiss francs to support Ukrainian refugees in Switzerland and people in Ukraine.

In 2022, Switzerland organised the first Ukraine Recovery Conference in Lugano and launched the political process to help Ukraine rebuild. The Summit on Peace in Ukraine, held in Switzerland in 2024, set up a path towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. In the longer term, the Federal Council aims to allocate 1.5 billion Swiss francs to support Ukraine's recovery efforts by 2028.
organic farming
energy efficiency
search for missing persons
food security
culture
tourism
diplomacy
peace process
health
psychosocial support
protection
education
gender equality
sustainable cities
water access
human rights
demining