A brief look at what’s going on with farmers in different parts of the world
This trip around the world in ag starts with Italy, where the federal government signed a deal with Ukraine.
The countries signed a deal worth US$11.9 million to launch the Pro.UKR project.
This project will be based in Ukraine’s Odessa region and support sustainable ag development and food security. It will also provide farmers with tools like irrigation systems.
"Italy confirms its support with a concrete project aimed at strengthening food security and promoting sustainable agricultural development," Italian Ambassador to Ukraine Carlo Formosa said, The Kyiv Indepdendent reported.
In Sri Lanka, the government has started keeping track of wildlife after farmers reported crop damage.
A new wildlife census will count the number of monkeys, peacocks, and giant squirrels, which are doing major damage to the country’s agricultural sector.
“The problem has become so bad people are giving up farming. We are losing about 20 per cent of total agricultural production. It is estimated that 90 million coconuts are lost every year,” Namal Karunaratne, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, told Reuters.
One farmer said he counted 45 monkeys, six giant squirrels and nine peacocks in five minutes.
And in the UK, lawmakers there launched an inquiry focused on the Welsh agriculture sector.
A committee will study what supports Welsh farmers receive and potential gaps in those supports. In addition, it will explore the potential effects of a proposed inheritance tax on farmers.
This tax policy, set to take effect in 2026, would mean farms valued at over £1 million (US$1.3 million) would face a 20 percent tax when handed to the next generation.
“Farming is a cornerstone of Wales’s economy and culture. But the sector is currently under strain from funding pressures, increasing energy costs, and new trading relationships to navigate,” said Ruth Jones, chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee. “With over 50,000 people working in Wales’s agricultural sector, we need to make sure farmers have the right support and funding.”