"Next season will be much worse in Ukraine"

We speak to Huizinga while he is on his way to Switzerland to Ukrainian Recovery Conference to visit in Lugano. It fits in with the work that the agricultural entrepreneur, active in Ukraine since 2003, has been doing in recent months.

From the NOS to the Financial Times, you have been everywhere in recent months to talk about Ukraine and the food supply. Did it help?
"Not enough. It is also naive to think that one person will solve this problem. Politicians are talking too much and taking too little action. Basically, there is simply a lack of agricultural knowledge among many politicians and the general media. People spend 8% to 9% of their income on food. That cost item doesn't look that important. You see it now also happening with the nitrogen crisis. Purely a lack of knowledge."

Is it likely that this will change or is that an impossible task?
"The agricultural sector is working hard on it, but if you don't understand it, you don't see it. Farmers grow up with it from childhood and do it all their lives. Agriculture is just one file among many for a politician. "

You have become the figurehead of Ukrainian agriculture. Is that conscious?
"There are more Ukrainian farmers telling their stories in the international media. Everyone is doing something. I was there early, maybe that made the difference. I don't look back, I don't have time for that."

You have now started the grain harvest. How does that seem?
"Sunday we started threshing winter barley. The crop is ripe due to heat and drought in the past period. The grain has burned to death in the ear and the straw is still green. It is therefore very thirsty. The hectolitre weight is quite low, which means that the yield is not easy. The spring started well in terms of weather, but then it became very dry. Meanwhile, the spring crops also need water, especially the maize."

You sometimes see messages from tractors driving on a mine and projectiles landing on fields. Is that also a danger for you?
"This is especially the case around the front line and in the north of Ukraine. Do not forget how big the country is. In our region there is no such danger. Finding personnel is a bigger problem. Drivers are in the army, there is We have a lot of work ahead of us now. Threshing grain, spreading fertilizer and tillage. Soon the sowing will be added again. We cannot get people from elsewhere. They are simply not there or the language is too big barrier."

And what about the fuel? Is there enough diesel?
"We've been hoarding diesel for the past few months and it's worked out well. With the current stock, we'll get the harvest in. Tillage and seeding require the most fuel. Suppliers have bought extra tankers and brought diesel from all over Europe. However, there are also plenty of companies that don't have enough diesel. I expect the problems will only increase this autumn. But that's not even the biggest problem."

What are you aiming for?
"The export of products has almost come to a standstill. Every day we now load a few trucks with maize that is still in the silo. With this we can export about a quarter of our production. This means that we are working for four years and that is simply unfeasible. Countries such as Romania and Poland are also working hard to improve the infrastructure, but it will take ten years to achieve this.Our rail network uses a different track gauge than Europe, which is why transshipment terminals are required to transfer wagons. If Ukrainian farmers cannot sell and export their products, there is no income to pay staff, buy fertilizer, seeds and machines."

How will that affect next season?
"Farmers who can't earn money have nothing. They will be the first to cut back on fertilizers, which reduces yields. You can use your own seed, but that also costs a yield. That is not without consequences. It is difficult for politicians and journalists to understand." If Ukraine cannot export and grow, it will have a major impact on the world food supply."

There is regular talk about reopening exports. Do you see that happening in the short term?
"Absolutely not. Some of the port facilities have been shot to pieces by the Russians, but fortunately not all. Shipowners are reluctant to send ships this way. This also applies to the Russian ports in the Sea of ​​Azov. They are struggling with the same problems. I think countries should set up grain exports themselves. Buy an old ship, put marines on it and sail to Odessa. If it sails under the Dutch flag then the Russian occupiers will not shoot it quickly, I think. But, nobody wants to stick its neck out. Russia itself does not have enough ships to export their products. Countries want to buy the wheat, but then it must also be able to be transported."

The reopening of large-scale export is therefore not an option. What do you think should be done now?
"It's simple: kick the Russians out of the country. The rest is all nonsense. European countries have to supply weapons en masse to Ukraine, so that the country can fight. What good is tanks in Spain or the Netherlands when there is fighting in Ukraine? the politics too little. The German Chancellor Scholz is more concerned with securing sufficient gas reserves, because Mercedes and BMWs have to be produced. I know in the meantime: You can fine a time without Mercedes, but not a day without bread. "

What can people in the Netherlands do?
"There is still a great need for help. We notice that the donations are drying up, while it is badly needed. Donations can be made via the foundation: The Lion Kyiv."

Cover photo: Screenshot video Kees Huizinga