Diesel for sowing with no payment upfront: Mykolaiv farmers receive fuel cards

In Mykolaiv Oblast, farmers with small and medium-sized farms are receiving free fuel cards through the “Winter Diesel” grant program. As of November 3, 2026, farmers have already received cards worth more than 12 million hryvnias, while applications for approximately 10 million hryvnias in further assistance are still under review. A representative of the UN World Food Programme and local farmers told Suspilne’s reporters about the program.

“Winter Diesel” is one of the initiatives under the “AgroHub” program, implemented by the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). As Anastasiia Honcharuk, a WFP communications specialist, explained, farmers have been receiving assistance since August 2025.

“The program is implemented by the UN World Food Programme in Mykolaiv Oblast and has been supporting farmers with small and medium-sized farms since August 2025. To date, more than 550 farmers have received or will receive assistance in the form of grants, grant programs for co-financing equipment, ‘Winter Diesel,’ individual programs, and legal support consultations.”

One of the program’s participants is Tetiana, a farmer who cultivates 70 hectares of land. Her farm has several tractors, seed drills, and trucks. In mid-October, she received fuel cards worth 78,000 hryvnias. She says the funds are intended for sowing winter crops. The assistance amounts to 1,200 hryvnias per hectare sown.

“It’s for sowing winter wheat, barley, and peas — 1,200 hryvnias per hectare sown. We’ve sown 40 hectares of wheat and are planning to sow another 25 hectares of peas. So this assistance will come in handy right now,” she says.

The farmer also noted that program participants can choose the gas station where they exchange their cards for fuel. The choice depends on where their farm is located. She brings the fuel to her farm in large containers, then pumps it into a storage tank, making it easier to refuel the tractors.

“We take two 200-liter barrels. This time we got 360 liters, and we can make another trip and get the same amount again. We bring it back and pump it into a barrel, because it’s easier to refuel the tractor here than to pour it from a canister. There’s a pump here that fills the tank,” says Tetiana.

Another farmer, Mykhailo, has applied to the “Winter Diesel” program and is waiting for approval of fuel cards worth 300,000 hryvnias. His farm cultivates nearly 500 hectares of land. He explains that the high cost of diesel fuel and logistics significantly affects production costs and the final price of agricultural products. According to him, delivery costs alone can take up a substantial share of a farm’s income.

“Logistics eats up 1,500–2,000 hryvnias of the product’s price. There’s nothing left as it is, and you still have to factor in another 2,000 hryvnias for logistics. That’s just the driver’s wages and diesel fuel. Diesel has become more expensive, there are no workers, no one to work, and that’s why so many people in our region have already left the agricultural business,” the man says.

We previously reported:

• Up to 200,000 hryvnias for businesses: support competition announced in Mykolaiv Oblast
• Mykolaiv farmers to receive compensation for up to 50% of the cost of irrigation systems
• Government launches agricultural insurance to protect farmers
• Economy Minister in Mykolaiv: drought is destroying crops, farmers are on the brink of bankruptcy
• A Partial Credit Guarantee Fund for farmers begins operating in Mykolaiv Oblast