Photo: Supplied Kees Huizinga
Ukrainian villagers and farmers have been thrown back into the Middle Ages, slaughtering pigs and milking cows by hand in an effort to keep the country fed, a farmer in Ukraine says.
Kees Huizinga said Russia's invasion of its neighbour was not only creating a humanitarian catastrophe at home, but also a global food security crisis.
For the past 20 years the Dutchman has farmed 15,000 hectares about 200 kilometres south of the capital Kyiv.
He also milks 2000 cows, keeps 450 sows and plants a range of crops including wheat - the grain which helped give Ukraine, together with Russia, the moniker "breadbasket of Europe".
Ukraine exports about a quarter of the world's wheat and half of its sunflower products, like seeds and oil.
Parts of northern Africa, the Middle East and Asia, major importers of Ukraine wheat and oil, would be badly affected if production was held up, Huizinga said.
Farmers in the north were weeks away from planting spring crops and fear they would not be able to sow if diesel fuel, fertiliser and seed were not able to get through.
It is estimated Ukrainian farmers need 200,000 tonnes of diesel - 8000 fuel trucks - for the next cropping season.
But with Black Sea ports out of action, it would have to be transported in from the west, "a huge logistical operation", Huizinga said.
Speaking from the Netherlands, where he is on a mission to alert politicians to the crisis, Huizinga said he was in regular contact with farmers around Ukraine.
Some were living under occupation, with Russian tanks driving around, and they were being held up at gunpoint for diesel.
One farmer, sheltering in his cellar, was not even allowed to cross the road to see to his farm.
But farmers and villagers were rallying to help feed the Ukrainian army and people in the town and cities, he said.
"Some farmers send wheat for free to the mills and the mills process it for free and make flour out of it and it goes for free to the bakeries and they bring bread for free to the army and to the people in need."
Pigs were being slaughtered the old fashioned way, their meat preserved and put into jars for the territorial defence force and the army, he said.
Farmers and villagers are rallying to help feed the country under attack from Russia Photo: Supplied Kees Huizinga
Huizinga said despite the crisis, spirits were high.
"People are very determined. The army is very motivated. Ukrainians will defend their territory. They will defend their land."
Food being delivered to Ukrainian troops Photo: Supplied Kees Huizinga
Huizinga is a member of a farmers association in Ukraine representing nearly 10 percent of Ukraine's agricultural land.
He said it was urgent decision-makers heeded warnings of a looming food crisis.
"I'm trying to bring that message if you don't grow a crop in your fields you won't have bread on your shelves or milk in your fridge," he said.
Kees Huizinga is also a member of the Global Farmer Network
