AGROINDUSTRIAL POTENTIAL OF THE REGION

Zaporizhzhya region is one of the largest producers of agriculture products and food among Ukrainian regions.

Area of regional lands dedicated for agriculture makes 2 248 500 hectares that is 5,4% of Ukrainian agricultural lands. Regional arable lands area equals 1 904 600 hectares .

The implementation of agrarian reform became a basis for development of agriculture. There are 579 communities, 94 agricultural cooperative societies, 295 private (private-rental) enterprises, 2337 privatized farms operating in the region.

The total product of agriculture in 2005 made $492,15 millions and increased compared with 2004 on 4,7%.

Plant-growing prevails in the structure of agricultural production. Average share of plant-growing during 2005 year composed 68% while cattle-breeding made only 32%.

There are favorable conditions in all agroclimatic areas for cultivation of vegetables, melons and gourds.

The central place in the structure of plant-growing now and in a long-term perspective is taken by grain growing which is a basis for the development of other agricultural branches, and especially cattle-breeding.

The main crop of Zaporizhzhya region is sunfl ower. Zaporizhzhya region is the third biggest Ukrainian manufacturer of sunflower.

Total gathering of grain and leguminous cultures in 2005 made 1 806 400 tons at average productivity of 2350 kg/hectare. It was threshed 734 700 tons of sunflower seeds (158.5 % compared with 2004).

In 2005 by all categories of facilities were produced: meat – 77 200 tones (103,1 % in comparing with 2004), milk – 383 800 tones (102,0 %), eggs – 556,7 million pieces (116,1%).

Poultry keeping and swine-breeding are defi ed as the priorities in the development of cattle breeding for the next three years. The agricultural enterprises of all types of property increase their livestock of pigs and poultry. Taking the experience of partners from Denmark , Austria , Holland , the enterprises of the region implement step by step the newest technologies in cattle-breeding sector.

There are 546 enterprises of food and processing industry operating in the region. 474 of them are the enterprises, which belong to the sphere of small-sized business and are focused on supplying of the local demand in food products (mini-bakeries, oil mills, dairies, grit cutters and other).

The enterprises which are Ukrainian leaders by the output volumes are located in Zaporizhzhya region. They are “Pology oil-extracting plant”, “Zaporizhzhya oil-fat mill”, “Zaporizhzhya meat processing factory”, “Melitopol meat processing”. Such enterprises as JSC “Zaporizhzhya brewery and non-alcoholic combinat “Slavutych” and “Zaporizhzhya factory of non-alcoholic drinks” are marvelous examples of profi table investment into the food industry ad regional agriculture.

The share of regional food enterprises in total state volume of production composed 8,6% in 2005 year.

The optimal network of market formations is created. 2 accredited commodity stock exchanges, 22 trading houses, 62 wholesale food and fruit-and-vegetable markets, 54 serving cooperative societies, 178 shops of firm trade, 8 credit societies successfully work on the territory of the region.

Rural aria of Zaporizhzhya region has a well developed social infrastructure which is presented by more than 110 hospitals, 730 institutions of primary and middle education level as well as almost 900 libraries.

Therefore, agricultural complex of the region can be estimated as extremely attractive for investing. The basis of investment attraction is fertile soils, inexpensive and qualified labour resources, significant production capacities of industrial enterprises, favorable geographical situation for exporting.