Region Profile

Geographically, the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region includes all former Soviet Union republics. The total area of arable land and permanent crops in the region amounts to 204 million ha. Three countries have 87 % of arable land: Russia 60%, Ukraine 16%, and Kazakhstan 11%. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union this region consumed 27 million tones of nutrients from fertilizers, half of which was applied in Russia, almost 20% in Ukraine, and 8% in Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. When the Soviet Union disappeared, fertilizer consumption shrunk to the current 4,5 million, and despite the progress during last five years it still amounts to only 17% of the level under the Soviet Union. Nowadays, Russia consumes 42% of nutrients, followed by Belarus with 26%, and Ukraine 13%.

Currently, the EECA Program consists of two large regions: Central Russia, and Southern and Eastern Russia. Taking into account the area of arable land, past fertilizer consumption, and current agriculture development, IPNI activity in this region will initially be concentrated in Russia, and in the near future the Program will expand to include Ukraine and Kazakhstan. Dr. Svetlana Ivanova, the EECA IPNI Vice-president, is responsible for the Program development of the whole EECA region and Central Russia, while Dr. Vladimir Nosov, the Regional Director, is responsible for the IPNI program in Southern and Eastern Russia.

Below you will find links to news and program activities, publications, and links to resources available from the EECA Program website.