Canada ships seeds to Ukraine to help hard-pressed farmers targeted by Russia

OTTAWA — Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau says Canada is sending seeds to Ukraine including buckwheat, a fast-growing crop.

The minister says Ukraine asked Canada — also a major grain grower — to send seeds and mobile silos to store its grain.

Buckwheat, used to make soba noodles, has a shorter growing season than wheat, making it easier to cultivate for Ukraine’s hard-pressed farmers.

Ukraine’s farmers have had their fields mined by Russian troops and their storage silos destroyed, and many agricultural workers are fighting the Russians.