From Displacement to Growth: A Ukrainian Entrepreneur Builds a Family Farm

Kateryna Rakitina, a Ukrainian entrepreneur, is transforming personal loss and wartime displacement into a thriving agricultural business in central Ukraine.

Originally from Makiivka, Kateryna was forced to flee her home in 2014 and rebuild her life in the Dnipropetrovsk region. After Russia’s full-scale invasion, her husband returned from military service with injuries that made it impossible to continue his previous work. Together, they turned to farming — starting small with two greenhouses and a home-based seedling operation.

Today, their family-run business grows a range of produce sold in nearby cities and local markets. With support from the FemAgro program, funded by the Women’s Opportunity Fund, Kateryna gained training, mentorship, and a grant to expand production, including the purchase of a larger greenhouse and irrigation system.

Now a registered entrepreneur, Kateryna continues to grow her business, with plans to expand into berries, organic farming, and processed goods.

“I simply love working on the land,” she shares. “It brings joy to see the results — and to know my children are eating the same high-quality food we produce.”

Kateryna’s story reflects the resilience and innovation of Ukrainian women who are rebuilding their lives and communities, even in the midst of Russian aggression.