In July 2022, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched the Agriculture Resilience Initiative (AGRI) in Ukraine.
USAID’s Economic Resilience Activity (ERA) joined AGRI-Ukraine, providing Ukrainian agricultural exporters with critical equipment so they can continue to export grain despite the challenges instigated by the war. To date, USAID ERA has provided 37 powerful diesel generators to 12 state and private partners to allow them to continue operations in spite of Russia’s relentless attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructureOne of these partners is Agro-Region, a Ukrainian logistics company that received two generators with a capacity of 80 kW and 420 kW for its facilities in Kyiv Oblast. Since May 2024, the generators work an average of 8 hours a day and ensure that elevator operations can continue during blackouts, allowing the export process to proceed uninterrupted.
“One generator ensures operation of the laboratory, administrative office, scale, grain cleaning equipment, grain drying, and the production workshop,” said Agro-Region’s Chief Energy Engineer, Maksym Rudniev. “Thanks to this generator, 58 workers continue to work every day, and shipped 6,700 tons of grain in two months.” The other generator ensures uninterrupted work for more than 150 workers. Without it, work productivity would drop by 60%.
Another ERA partner logistics company, Eridon, received two 544 kW generators through USAID ERA in May 2024, which they use at their grain elevator facilities in western Ukraine.
“Alternative power sources help us to ensure uninterrupted receipt and shipment of grain and earn foreign exchange from export operations, which is extremely important to sustain our nation’s economy at war,” explained Serhii Griaznov, CEO of Eridon. “These generators help us to avoid machinery and equipment downtime and to fulfill our obligations to suppliers and buyers on time.”
Background: Assistance to agricultural producers and infrastructure companies is part of the Agriculture Resilience Initiative (AGRI) – Ukraine, implemented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). It aims to help Ukraine increase its capacity to produce, store, transport, and export grain.