AGRICULTURAL SECTOR PRODUCTIVITY AND ITS ROLE IN ENSURING UKRAINE’S FOOD SECURITY

Abstract

The article presents a comprehensive study of the productivity of Ukraine’s agricultural sector and its role in ensuring national food security under conditions of economic instability, climate change, and wartime challenges. It substantiates that the yields of major cereal, oilseed, and legume crops are a decisive factor in shaping domestic food supply, export potential, and the overall resilience of the agri-food system. The dynamics of agricultural production over the period 1991–2025 are analyzed, and key structural transformations of the agricultural sector are identified, including the growing role of crop production, increased production concentration, changes in cropping patterns, and rising technological intensity. Particular attention is paid to the impact of the full-scale war, manifested in a reduction of sown areas, declining yields of certain crops, disruptions to logistics chains, landmining of agricultural land, and increased production risks. It is shown that in 2022–2025 the output of cereal and oilseed crops averaged about 70% of the 2021 peak level, posing additional threats to food security. The study demonstrates that despite significant losses, the agricultural sector remains one of the key stabilizing factors of the national economy, contributing up to 10% of GDP and around 60% of foreign exchange earnings from exports. The main economic, climatic, and technological factors affecting the stability of the agri-food system are identified, including global price volatility, the reintroduction of trade restrictions, intensifying climate risks, and limited access to production resources. The paper substantiates strategic directions for strengthening Ukraine’s food security, including increasing crop yields through the adoption of innovative agrotechnologies, digitalization of agricultural production, the use of drought-resistant varieties, the development of land reclamation systems, diversification of cropping structures, and adaptation of the agricultural sector to European Union standards. It is concluded that a comprehensive approach combining technological innovation, climate adaptation, and European integration processes is a key prerequisite for the sustainable development of the agricultural sector and for ensuring Ukraine’s food security in the long term.