CURRENT STATE AND POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF CROP PRODUCTION IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The purposes of the articles  are to analyze the state of the Ukrainian crop industry, to identify problems of domestic producers and to suggest promising measures to increase output productivity.

Scientific novelty is to determine trends in crop production in Ukraine. It was found that the level of plowing in Ukraine is more than twice as high as in the United States and European countries. This situation can lead to a deterioration in the quality of land in the absence of state control over its rational use.

The results of the study show a steady growth of agricultural production of Ukraine's main crops for 2000-2018. The most important is growing grain and sunflower production. It is noted that 2020 was a bad year for production due to adverse weather conditions. However, during this period the agricultural sector was the most successful in the economic direction in Ukraine. It is noted that Ukrainian agricultural holdings are more efficient compared to world leaders in the industry due to low production costs, namely cheap labor and low rents for land. The importance and leading positions of crop production in the export potential of the country are determined and substantiated. Agricultural enterprises are dependent on the influence of taxes, credit, prices and the financial factors of the macro-environment. Prospects for increasing crop production in Ukraine are considered. It is determined despite the growing financial support for the development of the agricultural sector, its overall level remains insufficient and well below that of any other European country.

Conclusions. Research has shown that crop production in Ukraine is trending positively. A number of factors have been identified as barriers to industry development. Key promising areas for crop development in Ukraine are: 1) increasing industry's attractiveness for investment and availability of credit to producers; 2) introduction of innovative technologies; 3) boosting irrigation in arid agro-climatic areas; 4) fully functioning land market; 5) raising the level of government support for agricultural producers; 6) the establishment of partnerships between Ukrainian and European companies in the field of agricultural production.