Ecological and economic basis of balanced development of horticulture in Ukraine

Abstract

The current state and ecological and economic foundations of balanced development of horticulture are analyzed. According to the data of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, the balance of fruits, berries and grapes in Ukraine for 2015–2020 in relation to the growth of production during this period was 73%, imports decreased by 2 times, exports increased by 5 times, processing volumes increased by 2 times, the consumption fund increased by 46%. Inventories increased by 3.9 times in 2020 compared to 2015, which is due to problems with product sales, disruption of logistics due to the Covid-19 pandemic, decrease in sales and purchase prices by manufacturers, etc. Reasonably improving the efficiency of the use of enterprise resources, improving the breed-varietal structure of fruit and berry plantations and the introduction of innovative resource-saving technologies can really be priority directions for increasing productivity in the field of horticulture. It was determined that the implementations of measures to increase the efficiency of the use of water resources in horticulture, which will reduce irrigation costs and conserve water resources. This can be achieved, in particular, with the help of modern drip irrigation systems, which make it possible to reduce water consumption by 30-50% compared to traditional irrigation methods. It is also important to conduct regular monitoring of the groundwater level and develop a system for their effective use. It has been proven that horticulture is an important branch of the economy, which ensures the cultivation of fruits, berries, nuts and other useful plants. However, at the same time, it can have a significant impact on the environment and natural resources. Therefore, to ensure the ecological and economic sustainability of horticulture development, it is necessary to take into account the ecological and economic aspects of growing plants. One of the main aspects is the preservation of soil fertility and its water-physical properties. Soil is an important resource that ensures plant development, water storage and carbon conservation. Growing plants can lead to loss of fertile soil, erosion, water and air pollution. In order to preserve the fertility of the soil, it is necessary to use environmentally friendly farming methods that reduce the impact of agrochemicals on the soil.