STOV Desna, an agricultural enterprise in northern Ukraine, plans to construct a modern potato storage facility by the end of this year, financed through the government's "Affordable Loans 5-7-9%" program.
According to Mykola Ponomarenko, co-founder and director of STOV Desna, the new facility would allow the farm to increase its potato cultivation area from 200 to 400 hectares.
Currently, the farm cultivates 1,500 hectares of land in total, including other crops. Annual potato yields range from 4,000 to 10,000 tonnes, depending on weather conditions. Up to 7,000 tonnes are stored for later use, while 2,000–3,000 tonnes are sold immediately after harvest.
At present, Desna relies on two repurposed Soviet-era buildings and four smaller vegetable storage units, each with a capacity of 1,000 tonnes. These facilities have been modernized with Dutch ventilation systems and cold chambers, allowing safe storage of up to 7,000 tonnes. However, Ponomarenko emphasizes that large-scale, professional production requires purpose-built infrastructure. The planned facility will hold 8,000–10,000 tonnes of potatoes.
"We're now planting the potatoes we stored ourselves. Half has already been planted. Once we finish, we'll start on the construction project," he says.
The farm also faces broader challenges common to Ukrainian agriculture: the ongoing war, labor shortages, and a lack of irrigation. The region has suffered three consecutive dry years. While the nearby Desna River could serve as a water source, Ponomarenko is hesitant due to Ukraine's complex permitting system. Instead, the farm intends to drill wells, build water reservoirs, and install drip irrigation systems across at least 150 hectares.
The Ukrainian Cabinet recently expanded the "Affordable Loans 5-7-9%" program to include vegetable and potato storage projects. Farmers are now eligible for subsidized loans of up to 150 million UAH (around $3.8 million), similar to support available for livestock and food processing industries.
"If we can begin construction next month, that would be ideal," says Ponomarenko. "I plan to visit the bank after planting to move the project forward."
For more information:
STOV Desna
Chernihiv region, Chernihiv district,
Boromyky village
+380 95 271 4007
Source: agro-business.com.ua
