LOGISTICS AND PRODUCTION POTENTIAL IN THE VEGETABLE FARMING INDUSTRY OF THE SOUTHERN REGION OF UKRAINE

Abstract

Food security of Ukraine is an integral part of the national security of the state, a factor for preserving its sovereignty, an essential component of demographic policy and life support system, as well as a prerequisite for maintaining health and high quality of life of the country's population. Agriculture occupies a special place in the Ukrainian economy, since it plays a leading role in ensuring the country's food security; it is an important supplier of raw materials for industry, the export of agricultural products forms foreign exchange earnings, especially necessary in the context of the country's debt crisis. Vegetable production is a component of Ukraine's agrofood production, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has recognized Ukraine as a promising global donor of food, including vegetables. Today, one of the most important problems both in Ukraine and in the world is maintaining a balanced diet of people. It should be noted that in recent years, per capita consumption of vegetables has increased. With the general trend towards an increase in consumption, there is a significant reduction in the country's population. It should be noted that the specifics of the formation of the consumption level in the context of regions are different. The highest level of consumption of vegetables is in Kherson, Cherkasy and Kirovohrad regions. In general, from the southern to northern regions and to the west, it decreases. Significant changes are observed in certain years and in certain regions, i.e., there are features in the formation of regional markets for vegetable products.