A gradual transformation of agricultural production is taking place in the Kherson region. Despite the fact that wheat, rapeseed, sunflower, peas and barley remain traditionally the key crops in the region, more and more farmers are changing the structure of crops, giving preference to vegetables. The reason is the increased risk of fires and difficult security conditions.

Vgoru reports on these trends. As noted by the head of the Association of Farmers and Private Landowners of the Kherson region, Viktor Hordiyenko, the number of farms switching to growing vegetables is increasing every year. One of the key incentives is state support - compensation for up to 80% of irrigation costs.

At the same time, the scale of production has not yet reached the pre-war level, especially after the explosion of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power station. Currently, the main source of water for farmers is the Ingulets River, which significantly limits irrigation possibilities and affects the volume of the harvest.

Despite the difficulties, farmers are actively adapting to the new conditions. They are installing pumping stations and expanding the area under melon crops. In 2026, it is planned to sow about 2 thousand hectares of melons, of which 1.5 thousand hectares will be allocated for watermelons.

At the same time, the proximity to the front line forces farmers to choose crops that are less vulnerable to ignition. According to Viktor Gordienko, rapeseed and sunflower withstand the risks of fires much better than wheat. Last year, farmers lost hundreds of hectares of crops due to drone attacks - 400 hectares of wheat burned down in just a few minutes on one farm.

The spring sowing campaign in the conditions of the fourth year of a full-scale war is under constant threat. If previously the main danger was mined fields, now the main threat is attacks by Russian drones that hunt people and equipment within a radius of up to 40 kilometers from the Dnieper River.

Economic difficulties are added to the security challenges. Due to the loss of part of the harvest in the previous year, many farms found themselves in a difficult financial situation. The situation is also complicated by the increase in fuel and fertilizer prices, which increases production costs.

According to the director of the Department of Agriculture Dmitry Yunusov, the total sown area for the 2026 harvest will be about 252.9 thousand hectares. The main part — 140.9 thousand hectares — is traditionally occupied by grain and leguminous crops.

He also specified that about 85% of the areas allocated for wheat, triticale and barley have already been sown. The rest of the farmers plan to complete spring crops in the near future, despite all the risks and challenges facing the region.