Farmers in Kherson are switching from wheat to vegetables due to constant shelling and fires

Farmers in the Kherson region are being forced to change their crop rotation, opting for crops that are less vulnerable to fire, as wheat is being destroyed on a massive scale by Russian drone attacks. 

This was reported by the publication Vgoru, citing Viktor Gordienko, head of the regional Farmers’ Association. 

According to him, last year, drone strikes destroyed 400 hectares of grain crops in just 15 minutes at a single farm, so now rapeseed or sunflowers are more commonly planted near the front line. Despite difficult conditions and financial hardship, farmers are expanding the area under melon and watermelon crops thanks to state compensation covering up to 80% of the costs of irrigation from the Ingulets River. This year, plans call for sowing 2,000 hectares of melons and watermelons, including 1,500 hectares of watermelons. The region’s total planted area for the 2026 harvest is expected to reach 252,900 hectares, with over 140,000 hectares allocated to grain crops. Currently, the greatest threat to farmers within a 40-kilometer zone from the Dnipro River is the occupiers’ drones, which are specifically targeting agricultural equipment and people.

Ukrainian farmers are forced to reduce their planted areas due to the sharp rise in fuel and fertilizer prices caused by global energy crises. Corn and industrial crops have been hit the hardest. Farmers warn that costs are rising faster than profits.

The Ukrainian market for white cabbage is seeing a rapid drop in prices. Over the past week, this vegetable has become 22% cheaper on average, as farmers are actively selling off their existing stocks.