Empowering Women Farmers Through the Ukraine Agriculture Support Program

Deadline: 15-Feb-2026

Mercy Corps, with support from the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, is expanding its Ukraine Agriculture Support Program to empower women farmers through training, hands-on experience, and financial assistance. The program provides entrepreneurship and agricultural skills training, study trips to advanced farms, and competitive grants of $3,000–$7,000, helping women increase productivity, income, and resilience.

Program Overview

The Ukraine Agriculture Support Program – Women Farmers Track is designed to equip women with the knowledge, resources, and financial support needed to thrive in agricultural production. The program emphasizes:

• Entrepreneurship and business skills for managing and growing agricultural enterprises

• Specialized agricultural training across crops, livestock, and farm management

• Practical exposure through study trips to advanced farms

• Competitive financial assistance to start or expand businesses

By combining training, practical experience, and funding, the program strengthens resilience and productivity among women farmers in regions affected by conflict.

Key Objectives

1. Entrepreneurship Training

   • Covers planning, accounting, marketing, branding, business registration, and financing

   • Helps participants establish sustainable agricultural businesses

2. Agricultural Skills Training

   • Includes vegetable and berry growing, horticulture, beekeeping, poultry, cattle, pig, rabbit, sheep, and goat farming

   • Curriculum designed for accessibility, using simple language, visuals, and recorded sessions

3. Hands-On Learning Experiences

   • Study trips to advanced farms across Ukraine

   • Practical exposure to modern agricultural practices, with travel and related costs covered

4. Financial Assistance

   • Competitive grants ranging from $3,000 to $7,000

   • Supports starting or expanding agricultural businesses

Who is Eligible?

Eligible participants include:

• Women who are local residents or internally displaced persons affected by war

• Head of a household or existing agribusiness

• Motivated to start or expand an agricultural enterprise

• Managing agricultural plots of up to 150 hectares

Program regions and partners:

• Donetsk, Poltava, Cherkasy: Eastern Ukrainian Agricultural Advisory Service

• Zaporizhzhya, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad: PERSHI Charitable Foundation

• Mykolaiv, Kherson, Odessa: LASKA Charitable Foundation

• Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kyiv: SUPPORT AGRO Charitable Foundation

Program Structure

• Training Duration: 7 weeks, delivered online

• Entrepreneurship Component: Business planning, accounting, marketing, branding, financing, and registration

• Agricultural Component: Practical guidance for crop and livestock management

• Learning Materials: Accessible, simple language, visuals, and recorded sessions for flexible learning

• Study Trips: Optional hands-on farm visits for skill reinforcement

Why This Program Matters

• Empowers women farmers in conflict-affected regions to increase productivity and income

• Strengthens resilience to current and future shocks in the agricultural sector

• Provides practical, hands-on experience to complement online learning

• Bridges financial gaps with competitive grants to start or grow agricultural enterprises

• Builds networks and knowledge-sharing opportunities through regional partners

How to Apply / How It Works

1. Eligibility Check: Confirm you are a woman farmer or aspiring agripreneur in the specified regions

2. Enroll in Online Training: Participate in 7-week course covering entrepreneurship and agricultural skills

3. Engage in Practical Learning: Optionally participate in study trips to advanced farms

4. Apply for Financial Assistance: Submit proposals for grants ranging from $3,000 to $7,000 to start or expand your business

5. Implement and Grow: Apply training and funding to increase agricultural productivity and strengthen resilience

Common Tips

• Ensure land size and business experience meet eligibility criteria

• Actively engage with both entrepreneurship and agricultural training modules

• Use recorded sessions for flexible learning if unable to attend live

• Prepare a feasible business plan when applying for financial assistance

• Leverage support from regional partner organizations for mentoring and guidance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who can participate in the program?
Women who are local residents or internally displaced persons in Ukraine, head a household or agribusiness, or want to start an agricultural enterprise on plots up to 150 hectares.

2. What regions are covered?
Donetsk, Poltava, Cherkasy, Zaporizhzhya, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Odessa, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kyiv.

3. How long is the training program?
Seven weeks of online entrepreneurship and agricultural skills training.

4. Are study trips included?
Yes, optional study trips to advanced farms are offered, with all travel and related expenses covered.

5. What financial assistance is available?
Competitive grants ranging from $3,000 to $7,000 for starting or expanding an agricultural business.

6. Is prior farming experience required?
No, the program is designed for women of various experience and education levels, with accessible materials and visual aids.

7. How is the program delivered?
Through a seven-week online training course, complemented by optional practical study trips and financial support for eligible participants.

Conclusion

The Ukraine Agriculture Support Program for Women Farmers empowers women with knowledge, skills, practical experience, and funding to grow their agricultural businesses. By combining training, mentorship, and financial support, the program strengthens agricultural productivity, income, and resilience in regions affected by conflict, fostering long-term empowerment for women in agriculture.

For more information, visit Mercy Corps.