Ukraine is a historically agrarian country. This is due to the fact that local soils are the best suited for this type of activity: chernozems account for 60% of the total area, which, combined with a favorable climate, allows achieving high yields of many crops without the use of fertilizers. All this makes the agriculture of Ukraine one of the most important sectors of the economy. Almost a third of jobs and a significant part of the gross product in the state is provided precisely through agriculture.
The climate and soils of Ukraine are best suited for the cultivation of many major crop crops, therefore, agriculture is traditionally preferred here. These are cereals, vegetables, and fruits. In the production of root crops such as sugar beets and carrots, Ukraine ranks first in Europe. Also, a considerable part of agricultural products produced in the country is occupied by cereals, potatoes, and legumes.
Today, agriculture in Ukraine is going through hard times. This is due to the difficult economic situation within the state and in the world. The growth in the number of farms that has begun has decreased significantly, and consumer agriculture predominates in most regions, that is, residents in their own plots produce only that amount of agricultural products that is necessary to meet their own needs, and to a small extent for retail.
Nevertheless, the agriculture of Ukraine 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 for 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 just such products. Until a certain period, there was an increase in the export of Ukrainian agricultural products due to its high demand on the world market. Unfortunately, the deteriorating economic situation in the country and the world has led to the fact that the agriculture of Ukraine is currently experiencing a significant decline. This is largely due to high fuel prices, because of which the wholesale sale of agricultural products becomes unprofitable, since wholesale prices are set by manufacturers of cheaper products from abroad. Also, the industry lacks modern technology, which minimizes production efficiency . Ineffective systems of credit, taxation and the provision of benefits also contribute to the fact that more and more farms are closing down, and new ones are in no hurry to form. Among the factors that negatively affect the agriculture of Ukraine, it is also worth noting the rational use of farmland and insufficiently effective planning in agriculture.
Thus, a paradoxical situation is developing in the country: a traditionally profitable industry, for which favorable conditions have been created by nature, is currently unprofitable, and the situation is unlikely to change without adequate government intervention. In order for Ukrainian agriculture to become profitable again, such measures as improving taxation for farmers, providing soft long-term loans for the purchase of fuel, equipment and supplies, and providing agricultural land to such farms on soft terms are needed. Unfortunately, all this is unlikely to be realized in the near future due to the difficult economic situation in the country, so the agriculture of Ukraine will remain in a difficult situation.