Agriculture of Ukraine: current situation, prospects.

Ukraine is a historically agrarian country. This is due to the fact that local soils are best suited for this type of activity: chernozems make up 60% of the total area, which, combined with a favorable climate, allows achieving high yields of many crops without using fertilizers. All this makes the agriculture of Ukraine one of the most important branches of the economy. Almost a third of jobs and a significant part of the gross product in the state is provided by agriculture.

The climate and soils of Ukraine are best suited for the cultivation of many basic crops, therefore preference is traditionally given to agriculture. This is the grain, and vegetables, and fruits. In the production of root crops, such as sugar beet and carrots, Ukraine ranks first in Europe. A considerable part of the agricultural products produced in the country is occupied by grains, potatoes, and legumes.

At present , Ukraine's agriculture is going through hard times. This is due to the difficult economic situation inside the state and in the world. The growth in the number of farms that have started has significantly decreased, and in most regions consumer agriculture predominates, that is, residents in their own plots will only produce the quantity of agricultural products needed to meet their own needs, and to a small extent for retail sale.

Nevertheless, Ukraine's agriculture has all the prerequisites to become very profitable: in addition to the unique climatic and geographical conditions mentioned above, there is also a certain reputation of Ukrainian agricultural products. It is known that most of it is produced without the use of chemical additives and fertilizers, and in the world there is clearly a tendency for consumers to prefer such products. Up to a certain period, the growth of exports of Ukrainian agricultural products was observed due to its high demand on the world market. Unfortunately, the worsening economic situation in the country and the world has led to the fact that Ukraine's agriculture is currently experiencing a significant decline. This is largely due to high fuel prices, because of which wholesale sales of agricultural products become unprofitable, as wholesale prices are set by producers of cheaper products from abroad. Also in the industry there is a lack of modern technology, which reduces the efficiency of production to a minimum. Inefficient credit systems, taxation and granting of benefits also contribute to the fact that more and more farms are being closed, and new ones are in no hurry to form. Among the factors that negatively affect the Ukrainian agriculture, it is also worth noting that rational use of farmland and inadequate planning in agriculture are not always the case.

Thus, a paradoxical situation develops in the country: traditionally profitable industry, for which nature has created favorable conditions, is currently unprofitable, and it is unlikely that the situation will change without adequate state intervention. In order for Ukrainian agriculture to become profitable again, measures such as improving taxation for farmers, granting preferential long-term credits for the purchase of fuel, equipment and supplies, and provision of agricultural land on preferential terms are required. Unfortunately, all this is unlikely to be realized in the near future due to the most difficult economic situation in the country, therefore Ukraine's agriculture will remain in a difficult situation.