The government has approved the procedure and criteria for determining areas of risky farming
The government has approved the procedure for designating areas of high-risk farming due to climatic factors and the consequences of hostilities. Farmers working in these areas will be eligible for government support.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has for the first time defined a mechanism whereby agricultural land will be classified as areas of risky farming due to unfavorable weather conditions or the impact of hostilities. The relevant resolution “On Approval of the Procedure and Criteria for Determining Risky Farming Areas” was adopted on March 4, 2026.
According to the Ministry of Economy's website, the decision is aimed at strengthening the country's food security in the context of full-scale war and growing climate challenges.
The document will allow targeted support for agricultural producers working in difficult conditions and stabilize crop production. Once the list of lands is approved, farmers will be able to receive state support. This will cover the average rent and minimum tax obligations and maintain production in risky areas.
The resolution provides for two key criteria for classifying land as risky farming areas:
• Negative impact of climatic conditions. The key indicator is the level of productive moisture in the 0–100 cm soil layer: less than 80 mm in the period from March 15 to April 30 for winter crops and less than 80 mm from May 15 to June 15 for spring crops. Samples are taken by accredited or certified laboratories on the basis of an agreement with the producer. The conclusions indicate the cadastral numbers of the plots, their area, the coordinates of the sampling points, soil types, and the actual amount of moisture.
• Consequences of hostilities. This refers to land plots located within 20 km or at a distance of 20 to 50 km from the state border with the aggressor state or the line of contact, as well as territories contaminated or likely to be contaminated with explosive objects.
What farmers need to do to have their land classified as a high-risk farming area:
• Be registered in the State Agricultural Register (DAR).
• Submit an application for land plots through their electronic account by July 1.
• Attach the necessary documents (in particular, laboratory conclusions – in the case of moisture deficiency).
• After submitting the application, the farmer can track its status in their account.
Next, regional state (military) administrations set up special commissions, which review the documents and make a decision within 10 working days. By July 30, the agreed lists are submitted to the Ministry of Economy, and final approval is carried out by order of the Ministry of Economy by August 31, with subsequent entry of information into the DAR.
As for the military criterion, such lands are identified through electronic data exchange between the State Emergency Service, the State Geocadastre, and the Ministry of Economy. The information is automatically verified between the public registers held by these bodies: the Register of Territories Contaminated or Likely to be Contaminated with Explosive Objects, the State Geocadastre, and the DAR. This allows for the prompt confirmation of the belonging of land plots to the relevant zones without additional references.
The implementation of the resolution creates conditions for predictable planning of economic activity, preservation of the production potential of regions, and strengthening of export opportunities even in wartime.
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