No fertilizers or chemicals. A farmer from Zhytomyr cultivates and exports organic grain.
The organic farming sector holds significant growth potential in Ukraine, thanks to favorable natural conditions and proximity to the EU market, where there is a demand for such products. Organic farming yields higher margins due to elevated prices and zero expenses for purchasing fertilizers and agrochemicals.
A farmer from the Zhytomyr region cultivates approximately three thousand hectares of land using organic methods, growing soybeans, corn, millet, and beans. All of the harvest is exported to European Union countries.
No herbicides, pesticides, or fertilizers
The owner of the agricultural enterprise "Zhiva Niva" in the Zhytomyr region, Oleksiy Yazikov, began experimenting with growing soybeans without chemical substances in 2012. Prior to this, the farmer cultivated this crop using the No-Till method, which involves avoiding plowing and deep soil cultivation.
"I wanted to go further and grow soybeans without chemicals. I started with five hectares. We experimented, trying to refine the technology. We didn't have certifications, but we operated under organic methods. There was no profit, but I wanted to ensure that the profit would be greater than with chemicals," recalls Yazikov.
Organic agriculture entails a complete rejection of chemical components. Before planting, seeds are not treated (in traditional farming, seeds are treated with pesticides to protect against fungal and bacterial diseases and soil pests), herbicides (substances for combating weeds) are not applied, nor are pesticides (agents against agricultural pests), fungicides (to destroy or inhibit the growth of fungi and their spores), and fertilizers.
Additionally, crop rotation (alternating crops) and green zones must be maintained. Crop rotation prevents soil degradation and supports high yields.
"We use green manures (plants sown to incorporate green mass into the soil as fertilizer – EP). We try bio-fertilizers. We used chicken manure pellets, but I can't say that this fertilizer works effectively. Green manures are effective, but they need to be integrated into the crop rotation. We don't always have enough time to sow them. We harvest late and plant early," the farmer explains.
3 One of the challenges in organic farming is weeds, which are eliminated with herbicides in traditional agriculture. According to organic farming standards, these cannot be used, so the farmer resorts to traditional techniques and equipment to combat wild plants: rotary and harrowing harrows, inter-row cultivators.
"We combat weeds using rotary and harrowing harrows. In conventional farms, such equipment is not given much attention, but for us, it is the primary tool for weed control. We address pest issues through crop rotation. If that doesn't work, we incur losses," notes Yazikov.
Organic pest control methods exist, but the farmer does not use them because they also harm beneficial insects. This includes not only bees that pollinate plants but also wild pollinators (bumblebees, butterflies, flies) and insects that destroy pests and improve soil quality.
Higher profit per hectare
Organic grain in EU countries is purchased at a premium price that is 30-40% higher than the price of non-organic grain. At the same time, the production cost in organic farming is slightly lower than in traditional farming, due to the absence of expenses for purchasing and applying plant protection products against pests and weeds.
"If soybeans can be grown without weeds and organically, then it can yield a higher profit. Costs amount to 700 euros per hectare, while income is 1,500-2,000 euros. I haven't heard of such results when growing with "chemicals." Beans provide even greater profit. Our costs for cultivating a hectare of corn are 750 euros, while with "chemicals," it's around a thousand euros," shares the founder of "Zhiva Niva."
The yield of corn using organic technologies on Yazikov's farm is 8 tons per hectare, while with chemical fertilizers and plant protection products, it exceeds 10 tons per hectare. Utilizing proven technologies for growing grains and legumes through organic methods yields higher income than conventional farming, even at lower yields. "The bottleneck is the technology. If it's good, then you can harvest good yields," says Yazikov.
Only export: the organic market in Ukraine is non-existent
The primary issue with organic production in Ukraine is the small market size. Farmers operating in this niche have to search for sales channels abroad.
"In Ukraine, no one buys organic products; the market exists only in EU countries. We need to find buyers abroad and export independently. There are companies that resell products grown in Ukraine, but collaborating with them does not yield much profit. Because of this, we are forced to handle exports ourselves," admits the farmer.
"We look for clients abroad on our own through friends and businesses that also engage in organic production. We unite with them for larger shipments. I have never received any support from the state, but it's good that the government does not hinder us," explains the owner of "Zhiva Niva."
In the farmer's opinion, organic production in Ukraine is developing slowly due to the complexity of the cultivation technology. "In 2022, we faced crop failure. Sometimes, up to 50% of the harvest consists of weed seeds. A lot depends on adhering to the technology, but if it keeps raining, everything becomes overgrown with weeds," says Yazikov.
The lack of demand for organic products in Ukraine also hampers market development.
Certification
A mandatory procedure in organic farming is certification, which must be confirmed periodically.
"There are no particular difficulties here. The problem is that the company responsible for certification in Ukraine – Organic Standard – is essentially a monopoly in the market. There are other operators, but unfortunately, they cannot compete with Organic Standard," explains the farmer.
This impacts not only the cost of the certification process but also the duration and timeliness of all procedures. "Certification costs money. For small enterprises, certification is a significant expense, for large ones – 3-5 euros in additional costs per ton," notes the agrarian.
For his company, 90% of the certification service costs are covered by USAID as part of a grant program that supports organic producers in Ukraine.
The certification process – from application submission to receiving a certificate for annual crops – takes two years. The procedure includes annual inspections.
"They observe the growing process, inspect each field, take samples of each crop, and send them for analysis in a laboratory. If they find any chemical substances, they try to understand the situation and help us grow clean products that will not raise any questions in the EU," says Yazikov.
The war has complicated the work of organic producers
Since the onset of the large-scale war, the number of organic producers in Ukraine has decreased by 12%, and the area of their land has shrunk by 38%. This occurred due to the occupation and the cessation of operations in Ukraine by several