Despite having a solid legislative framework and stable, robust international support, cooperation in the Ukrainian fruit and vegetable sector continues to lag. Taras Bashtannik, President of the Ukrainian Fruit and Vegetable Association, expressed this sentiment during the international conference "Sustainable Agribusiness: Traditions, Niches, Ecopractices, Technologies," where he highlighted the challenges faced by farmers.
One of the main reasons cited is the size of Ukrainian farms cultivating fruit products. In contrast to Poland, where the average farm size is 0.8 hectares, in Ukraine, it reaches 8 hectares. This poses difficulties in forming cooperatives from several large producers.
Bashtannik highlighted the disparity between the legal structure and practical implementation, citing the abundance of international cooperative programs and grants, which Ukraine has yet to capitalise on fully.
Moreover, there exists a mental barrier, characterized by a lack of trust and uncertainty regarding management and resource distribution within cooperatives. Farmers worry about leadership and priorities in the cooperation process.
Despite subsidies and grants for cooperatives, successful cases in Ukraine are currently scarce. Farmers often prefer to sell their produce independently, considering it more profitable than participating in cooperatives.
While the prospects for successful cooperatives remain uncertain, Bashtannik warned that without cooperation, Ukrainian farmers may eventually face market saturation and stiff competition.
Thus, despite support and a ready legislative framework, issues with cooperation in the Ukrainian fruit and vegetable sector remain relevant and require further efforts to overcome.
source: seeds.org.ua