On 15 July 2026, the National Development Institution (NDI), with the support of the German Government, presented a pilot programme to help Ukrainian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises adopt modern climate change-oriented practices and technologies in the horticulture.

The goal of the programme is to provide Ukrainian horticultural producers with access to modern green finance instruments enabling investment in practices and technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen climate resilience, and improve the efficient use of natural resources. 

Support is available for projects involving the cultivation, processing and export of 4 value chains apples, raspberries, strawberries, and walnuts. 

Priority regions: Vinnytsia, Volyn, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Odesa, Kherson, Cherkasy and Chernivtsi

Application period: 22 July-20 August 2026

Find out more and apply: https://bdf.gov.ua/programs/zelene-fermerstvo-v-haluzi-sadivnytstva/

Dr Yvonne Gall, First Secretary, Counsellor for Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity, Economic Section, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ukraine: “The German Government supports initiatives that enable Ukrainian farmers and agricultural enterprises to invest in modern climate-smart technologies, enhance their competitiveness, and move closer to European standards of sustainable development.” 

Olha Sharyha, Head of the Crop Production Division and Deputy Director of the Agricultural Development Department at the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine: “The green transition is one of the cornerstones of Ukraine’s future. Climate change, land and soil degradation, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and increasing phytosanitary risks, all of this underscores the need to continue implementing practical initiatives in the areas of digitizing agricultural production, developing precision farming systems, restoring degraded land, and improving water-conservation technologies. And this is exactly what the Ministry of Economy is actively working on right now to help our farmers.” 

Andrii Hapon, Chair of the Management Board of NDI: “Today we are presenting more than just a new financial support programme. We are introducing a green approach to the development of Ukraine’s agricultural sector. This is our first pilot initiative dedicated specifically to the horticulture sector, combining affordable bank financing with grant funding. Such blended financial solutions enable businesses to adopt modern technologies more rapidly, strengthen their competitiveness, and comply with today’s environmental standards.”

Roman Sushchenko, acting Chairperson of the Cherkasy Regional Council: “For the Cherkasy region, where the agricultural sector plays a vital role in the regional economy and the development of local communities, supporting farmers is one of our key priorities. Today, agricultural producers are operating under the challenging conditions of war and the increasingly evident impacts of climate change. This is why access to financing and modern climate-smart technologies is of critical importance. I am confident that the programme “Green Farming in the field of Horticulture” will help strengthen farming enterprises, create new opportunities for community development, and enhance the competitiveness of Ukrainian agricultural products.”

Dmytro Berezovskyy, Project Manager of the GIZ Project PROGRESS in Ukraine: “It is important for us that Ukrainian agricultural producers gain access to financial instruments that encourage the adoption of climate-smart technologies today. This Programme demonstrates that the green transition can be practical, economically viable, and accessible for micro, small and medium-sized businesses. We are confident that the results of this pilot initiative will provide a solid foundation for scaling up similar financing mechanisms in the future.”

Financing will be provided in conjunction with the Government’s Affordable Loans 5–7–9% Programme through partner banks JSC “Oschadbank” and JSC “CREDITWEST BANK”, with loan terms of up to five years. Participants will also be eligible for guarantees from the Partial Credit Guarantee Fund in Agriculture.

Eligible applicants include micro, small and medium-sized enterprises from all regions of Ukraine, except for the temporarily occupied territories. 

Photos: ©Ukrinform

The Programme “Green Farming in the Field of Horticulture” is implemented by the National Development Institution (NDI) under the regional project “Promoting Green Deal Readiness in the Eastern Partnership Countries” (PROGRESS) is implemented on behalf of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Government of Germany. Within the Federal Government, the IKI is anchored in the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN). The project is also the responsibility of the Federal Foreign Office (AA). PROGRESS is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, as the lead agency, in partnership with the European Business Association (EBA) Moldova, the Institute for Economics and Forecasting of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (IEF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the Regional Environmental Centre for the Caucasus (RECC).