“She Never Gave Up”. How an Entrepreneur from Kryvyi Rih Survived the Crisis and Started a New Business Thanks to a Grant

When the full-scale war began, Iryna Kuznetsova did not close her kiosks for even a day. Despite falling profits and loans, she continued working in Kryvyi Rih – feeding her family, clients, and… birds. Poultry farming became for Iryna not only a passion but also a new business direction. Thanks to a grant from the “Support and Recovery of the Kryvyi Rih District” Programme, she managed to stabilize the new business and purchase equipment.

Trading During the War: Losses Instead of Profits

Iryna’s entrepreneurial story began back in 2000 – with work at a street market. Later, she opened a sole proprietorship and began working in a rented store. Together with her husband, they developed the business and have been selling at two kiosks in one of Kryvyi Rih’s districts for many years.

During the full-scale war, the kiosks never closed – not even in the first days: “In three days, all the goods were gone. And when we went to restock, everything cost three times more. We were selling at a loss. But we couldn’t close – because people came and asked for food. We carried on as best we could.”

At the peak of the blackouts, Iryna’s five refrigerators burned out. Customers decreased – many people had left the city. Constantly rising electricity costs and taxes were joined by loans. Trade was no longer saving them.

From Trading to Poultry Farming

After a year in crisis, Iryna decided to start a new business – poultry farming. It all began with a home incubator, 15 hens, and grain that the family received as part of their land share.

“My mother kept hens and pigs all her life. I decided to try it myself – and I got hooked. In 2022, I incubated my first chicks, but nothing worked. The following year, I completed a full poultry farming course, became a certified livestock technician. Now it’s different.”

In Iryna’s yard now there is a mini-farm: 50 hens, 50 broilers, 25 ducks, about 500 quail, and two incubators.

A Grant That Gave Solid Ground

In a moment of crisis, Iryna learned about a grant Programme for entrepreneurs in the Kryvyi Rih district. At first, she hesitated, but at seminars held by local authorities, she was supported and helped to prepare the application.

This was Iryna’s first grant. With the funds received, she purchased over 150 bags of feed – almost four tons, which covers up to eight months of poultry feeding.

She also bought two refrigerators, a generator, and an air conditioner for the new mini-farm. She expects the second part of the grant – for nine specialized cages.

“This grant literally saved us. Feed alone costs 5–6 thousand hryvnias a week. The generator is also critical – if the power goes out, the chicks will simply die. They need warmth for the first three weeks of life.”

Live, Work, Never Give Up

Today, Iryna is confidently developing two businesses: food trade and poultry farming. She values her family’s support the most, and she also has an assistant – a displaced person whom she officially employs.

“I get up at six in the morning and go to bed at one at night. But I like it. I eat quail eggs every day, and I see the results – my health has improved. And since I have irrigation, I want to raise poultry for meat. I have many ideas, I just need a few more responsible helpers.”

Iryna plans to apply for the next grants, including for the development of feed sales. She says: the main thing is not to give up.

“I never gave up. We had a crisis, we lived on loans. But we survived. And now I know for sure – with support, anything is possible: to work, to pay taxes, and to grow.”

From Despair to Growth

Today, Iryna sells eggs to acquaintances, at markets, and has even begun to explore online sales – she posted her first incubated eggs on her Instagram page. She plans to scale up production and later open another line – feed sales.

“Many of my entrepreneur friends simply gave up. But not me. Because I know: even from nothing, you can do something. And even more so, if someone supports you.”

Iryna does not regret her choice and wants to apply for new grants – now for kiosks. Because, despite the war, she sees a future for her business.

ℹ️ For reference:
The program is implemented within the framework of the “Support for Recovery of Kryvyi Rih Rayon” project, funded by the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg through the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency (LuxDev) and the Business Development Fund.

Authorized banks: Oschadbank and PrivatBank.