European farmers unite to protect their rights in Ukraine
On 14 March, a new public organisation was launched in Ukraine — the International Farmers Association of Ukraine (IFA), according to IFA President Michel Tereshchenko.
The association brings together 63 family-run farms from European countries operating on Ukraine’s fertile black-soil lands, with the aim of collectively resisting pressure from corrupt officials and raiders.
The total landholdings of the association’s members amount to 275,000 hectares, with individual farms ranging from small 300-hectare operations to large enterprises of up to 22,000 hectares. According to Tereshchenko, members include farmers from Germany, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, and other countries, who not only invest in production but also actively support Ukrainian rural communities.
The founders emphasise that foreign farmers are often victims of unlawful actions.
“Farmers frequently fall victim to raiders, corrupt officials, and fraudsters,” Tereshchenko stressed.
The creation of the IFA will allow farmers to more effectively defend their rights and provide legal support to each member of the community.
Beyond its legal advocacy role, the association plans to become an important voice in Ukraine’s European Union integration process. IFA representatives will participate in negotiations related to the agricultural sector to ensure that adaptation to European standards is as transparent as possible, taking into account the interests of both foreign and local producers.
It should be recalled that global agriculture has come under pressure due to fuel shortages, while farmers in occupied areas have also experienced a significant drop in crop yields.
