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| The Nova Kakhovka dam has collapsed in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine. (Source: Reuters) |
According to the ministry, the dam collapse will flood tens of thousands of hectares of farmland in the south and could turn at least 500,000 hectares of unirrigated land into desert.
Wetlands will require a thorough assessment of soil conditions and will need special soil restoration measures. Vegetables, melons, cereals, and oilseeds are the main crops grown in the affected areas.
Ukraine is a major producer and exporter of grains and oilseeds in the world .
Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky also stated that the damage to the agricultural sector could be greater than previously anticipated, due to years of disruption to irrigation.
Earlier, on June 7, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stated that it was "very concerned" about the social, economic , and environmental impacts of demolishing the Nova Kakhovka dam.
An IMF spokesperson said: “It is too early to assess the full impact of the damage on the economy. We are closely monitoring the situation.”
Ukraine is currently awaiting approval from the IMF's executive board for a $900 million disbursement from the IMF's new $15.6 billion lending program.
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