The Prospects of Small Business Entities in the Agricultural Production System of Ukraine

Abstract Research background The number of small agricultural enterprises in Ukraine has been decreasing in recent years, and their share in the total volume of production and sale of agricultural products has remained stable at a relatively low level. At the same time, there is a public demand for the growth of the role of small agricultural enterprises, which can perform important economic and social functions. Ensuring the effective development of small agrarian business entities involves the use of strategies and approaches that take into account the specifics of the relevant groups of agricultural producers. Purpose The purpose of the paper is to justify the prospects of small agrarian business in Ukraine, taking into account the trends of its development, including in the conditions of martial law. Research methodology The research used data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine. The research methodology is based on the general dialectic approach and includes the following methods: induction, deduction, analysis of dynamic series, and graphical. Results The peculiarities of the formation of the contribution of small agricultural enterprises into the supply of agricultural products in Ukraine are revealed. A generally high level of economic efficiency, a satisfactory level of technological efficiency and a relatively low level of social efficiency of small farms were established. Prospective strategies for the development of various categories of small agricultural enterprises are outlined, taking into account the mechanisms and sources of their support, which can be used in the conditions of martial law and the post-war period. The application of these strategies can ensure positive socio-economic changes in the agricultural production system of Ukraine. Novelty A differentiated assessment of the results of the activities of small enterprises and individual entrepreneurs in the agricultural economy of Ukraine in the pre-war period and in the conditions of martial law was carried out. The prospects for the development of small farms in the post-war period are outlined, taking into account changes in the environment of their operation and the application of separate regulatory instruments.