MAIN CHALLENGES OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN THE BERRY INDUSTRY

Abstract

The emergence and development of a new coronavirus infection and the pandemic that followed caused global changes in all sectors and areas of human activity. Agriculture in different countries and regions has fully felt the consequences of the restrictions imposed. Statistical data on the state of agriculture of the Russian Federation, including crop production, and in the context of farm categories indicate that this real economy sector was not significantly affected by the crisis of 2020. However, the impact of the crisis is extremely uneven depending on the category of products grown and will manifest itself for more than one year. This paper is devoted to analyzing the main problems faced by Russian agricultural producers specializing in berry cultivation in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic on the example of the Tula Yagoda Corporate Group (Tula Yagoda Group). The research aims to identify, summarize, and systematize the main challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in the berry industry in the form of a scheme. The analysis of the actual operation results, tactical and strategic difficulties of the Tulskaya Yagoda Group allowed us to conclude that the impact of the pandemic and related restrictions affected all stages of berry production (supply, production, and sale), as well as the prospects for its development. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the most vulnerable areas of the berry farms’ operation and will have long-term consequences, which can be partially offset by rational adjustments to the volume of cultivated land, their processing technology, types, and varieties of cultivated crops, etc. For the enterprises of this industry to continue to function and develop effectively, it is necessary to strengthen the positions of the Russian arboretums, optimize the use of labor resources, as well as provide state support not only for agricultural producers in case of another pandemic but also representatives of related industries.