Economic Efficiency of Potato Growing in the Context of Ecologisation of Agricultural Production

Abstract

In the current conditions of development of the agricultural economy, the importance of environmentally friendly production, which not only contributes to the conservation of natural resources but also ensures the sustainable development of the industry, is growing significantly.Growing potatoes, one of the main crops in Ukrainian agriculture, is becoming a key area for increasing production efficiency, minimising the negative impact on the environment and meeting the demand for organic products in environmentalisation.

This study aims to analyse the economic efficiency of potato cultivation in the context of greening agricultural production.

To achieve this goal, the study used general scientific and unique methods of analysis, in particular, a systematic approach for a comprehensive assessment of the impact of environmental factors on the economic efficiency of production, a comparison method for analysing traditional and ecological methods of potato cultivation; economic and statistical analysis to study the dynamics of profitability and yield; and a generalisation method for formulating recommendations.

The analysis showed that ecological potato production has several advantages, including preserving soil fertility, reducing chemical fertiliser costs, and increasing demand for organic products. However, at the stage of introducing ecological technologies, there is an increase in initial costs and risks of lower yields. In the long run, ecological production can be cost-effective due to the growth of the market value of environmentally friendly products and the increased profitability of farms. A comparative analysis of conventional and ecological methods of potato cultivation shows that they differ in yield and costs.

The study concluded that organic potato production is a promising area for agricultural producers seeking to increase the economic efficiency of their operations and minimise the negative impact on the environment. However, to ensure stable profitability, government support is needed to reduce the costs of implementing ecological technologies and develop special training programmes for farmers.