The rich soil in Ukraine once made it the breadbasket of Europe, exporting thousands of tonnes of wheat, corn and sunflower seeds. The Russian invasion in 2022, however, hit farmers extremely hard.

Hard-working farmers who were already battling poverty before the war began are now finding it impossible to make ends meet. Farming across Ukraine has dwindled as a result of constant airstrikes, mined farmland and stolen harvests.

With Ukraine reeling from the harshest winter in a decade, prospects for those struggling in poverty have gone from bad to worse.

Viktor and Mariya live in a small village in western Ukraine. Like others in the region, family life is closely tied to their land, to the fields and to the livestock.

“The land is our source of life. We grow vegetables, grain and other crops and keep livestock, including a cow, pigs and chickens. The harvest and all the products we grow serve to feed the family and the animals”

Large families are common where they live, as small-scale farms rely heavily on family labour. Viktor and Mariya’s family are no different, with seven children.

Despite their constant hard work, they live at the edge of subsistence. The little they do produce is consumed by the family, leaving nothing to sell for cash. The cost of clothing for their children and school supplies often exceeds what they can afford.

The rising cost of seeds is also making it impossible for many to plant enough to feed their families.

Each year we provide practical help by supplying seeds and seedlings for families like Viktor and Mariyas. With these, they can grow fresh produce from early Spring through Autumn, preserve surplus harvests for winter and prepare healthy meals throughout the year.

This is essential work, helping families to become self-reliant, giving them hope for the future and restoring their dignity, so please do consider giving £25 to help us distribute a box of seeds and seedlings for a family during this Easter season.