Starting October 28, applications will open for grant support for small grape growers and winemakers in the Odessa region. The initiative is implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in cooperation with Ukraine’s Ministry of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, with financial support from the Government of Italy.
Registered grape growers and winemakers in the State Register of Agriculture (DAR) who cultivate between 2 and 50 hectares of vineyards in Odessa are eligible to participate. Selected participants can receive grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000, depending on production volumes and justified needs.
The new FAO programme aims to develop Ukraine’s wine sector by expanding access to modern equipment, quality planting material, technical support, and introducing market-oriented approaches that ensure sustainable growth for small producers.
“We are grateful to FAO and the Government of Italy for their consistent support of Ukraine’s agricultural recovery. This partnership brings real benefits to local producers: it helps restore production, creates new jobs, and opens additional opportunities for export development. Such cooperation stimulates sustainable economic growth in the agricultural sector and the Ukrainian economy as a whole,” emphasized Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture, Denys Bashlyk.
According to Shahnoza Muminova, head of the FAO Office in Ukraine, this initiative is another step in long-term cooperation with the Ukrainian government to strengthen the rural economy and support recovery through agri-food value chains.
The programme also includes technical assistance, training, and consultations, as well as support for implementing a protected geographical indications system to increase the competitiveness of Ukrainian wines in domestic and international markets.
