Autumn Sowing Costs Double in Cherkasy Region Amid Labor and Navigation Challenges

In the Cherkasy region, expenses for the autumn sowing campaign have increased almost twofold compared to the previous year. To cut costs amid rising prices, certain agricultural enterprises are abandoning mineral fertilizers entirely in favor of organic alternatives, according to Suspilne Cherkasy.

In addition to financial pressures, the pace and efficiency of field operations are heavily impacted by several critical factors, including severe labor shortages, complicated field conditions, and recurring navigation disruptions.

At the farm of Mykola Dubyna in the village of Sloboda, a shortage of male workers has led to women being recruited for sowing operations, highlighting the growing workforce deficit across the region's agricultural sector.

Tractor operator Nazar Minziak from a farm in the village of Cherneche highlighted the technical complexities in the field. He noted that crop residues left after sunflower harvesting tend to clog agricultural machinery, a problem that is exacerbated by excessive soil moisture.

Furthermore, interruptions in GPS navigation during air raids present an additional challenge. To cope with this, traditional mechanical solutions prove vital; for instance, a seeder equipped with markers allows operators to continue working smoothly without constant reliance on satellite navigation systems.