Mykolaiv region lost all corn and half of sunflower due to drought – Kim

The Mykolaiv region is experiencing a severe drought for the second consecutive year, causing major losses in the agricultural sector. This was announced by the head of the regional administration, Vitaliy Kim, during an interview with Espreso TV on August 4.

"The drought has caused a lot of problems. We’ve lost all our corn and nearly half of our sunflower crop — which was our main strategic crop," Kim said.

Kim described the ongoing conditions as "extremely difficult", adding:

"This is the second year of drought, and it’s a real disaster. On top of that, a heatwave continues to affect the Mykolaiv region in southern Ukraine."

To ease pressure on farmers, local authorities are considering allowing grain trucks to operate during curfew hours.

The regional administration has also appealed to the central government for assistance. The Minister of Economy, along with other representatives from the Ministry, recently visited the area to discuss possible solutions.

"The situation is bad, and it’s tough for businesses. But we will overcome this," Kim emphasized.

• Meanwhile, in neighboring Kherson region, much of which remains under Russian occupation, the situation is equally grim.
• Due to a combination of drought, late spring frosts, Russian drone attacks, and wildfires, local farmers have lost more than 50,000 hectares of winter crops. Grain yields have plummeted to just 1.5 tonnes per hectare (15 centners/ha).