The State and Prospects of the Agrarian Sector in the Kherson Region During and After the Wartime

The aim of the article is to review and analyze the state, wartime and post-wartime issues of the agrarian sector, as well as the prospects for the development of agriculture in the Kherson region. A number of common issues faced by Ukraine’s agrarian sector have been studied following the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the russian federation, namely: military consequences; reduced yields of agricultural crops and livestock and poultry; labor resources; economic, investment, and financial difficulties; export issues; and environmental problems. It is determined that as of 2024, more than 7 million hectares of oilseeds and over 5.5 million hectares of grain and leguminous crops had already been sown in the territory controlled by Ukraine. Regarding the livestock sector, the indexes of cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens have significantly decreased across Ukraine since the onset of the full-scale invasion. An analysis of the dynamics of agricultural production indexes in the Kherson region revealed that 2022 was critical – all categories of farms underwent a sharp decline in production volumes, due to external factors including active military actions, landmines, and occupation of the territory. In 2023, a positive trend was observed in the household sector against a backdrop of further decline in the entrepreneurial sector, which may indicate an increase in the adaptive potential of small-scale farming under crisis conditions. A number of problems in the agrarian sector of the Kherson region during the wartime and post-wartime periods have been outlined, which are complex and require a systematic approach to their resolution, as physical destruction of infrastructure, landmining, crop losses, socioeconomic difficulties, environmental consequences, and legal violations create significant barriers to the recovery of the region. We have also identified key promising directions for addressing these issues. Among the main priorities are the clearance of agricultural land from mines and explosive remnants of war for safe farming, the restoration of vital infrastructure (irrigation systems, transport routes, logistics facilities), as well as the implementation of financial support mechanisms for farmers – in particular, subsidies, accessible loans, and insurance.