Ukrainian farmers are wearing helmets and bulletproof vests to sow spring crops as their country’s war with Russia rages nearby. As Philip Case reports in this article for Farmers Weekly, fields have to be checked for Russian mines and other explosives prior to drilling. During spring planting operations, safety is paramount, the farmers say, which is why they have started wearing body armour.
Despite the hostilities, the government hopes farmers will plant six million hectares of crops this year, which is equivalent to 80% of the area farmed last year.
The authorities are clearing between 2,000 and 6,000 explosive objects each day, said Oleh Bondar, a spokesperson for the country’s state emergency service.
Source: Farmers Weekly. Read the full story here
Photo: Credit and courtesy Dmytro Smoliyenko/Ukrinform/Future Publishing/Getty Images
