Establishment of competition in the market of seed and planting material certification services in Ukraine

Abstract

The quality and varietal purity of seeds is one of the crucial factors in determining the consumer value of any end product. Sowing with high-quality seeds ensures a successful harvest in the future. The purpose of this study was to determine the state (formation and development) of competition in the market for certification of plant variety seeds. The main methods used in the study are statistical analysis, comprehensive assessment, deduction, abstraction, forecasting, historical, and tabular methods. This study investigated the state of competition of subjects of appraisal activity by six objective indicators, analysed their material and technical base, and human potential. The market for seed certification services is a market with limited access and should be characterised as an oligopoly. This market is represented by entities of different forms of ownership and management, it is competitive in determining seed quality and virtually monopolistic in determining varietal properties. Fluctuations in the cost of services are insignificant (15%) and are not currently the main criterion for seed producers when choosing an organisation that conducts seed certification. The present paper was the first to determine the total market capacity in terms of volume and value, and to present possible ways of its growth, which is the practical value of this study. The data presented in this study can be used by other researchers in their scientific work related to this market or agriculture. The findings may also be required by government officials or businesses operating in the market.