Genesis and development of agricultural advisory services in Ukraine

The purpose of the article is to investigate the initiation, current issues, and further development of agricultural advisory services in Ukraine. Research methods. The research uses dialectical methods of cognition and monographic method (for the analysis of legislation, works of Ukrainian and foreign scientists on the problem of advisory services in agriculture), empirical and graphical methods (to assess and demonstrate the structure of organizational forms and marketing methods of advisory services), abstract logical methods (for theoretical generalizations and formulation of conclusions). Research results. The study has highlighted that agricultural advisory services institution is a powerful tool to help smallholders in Ukraine break the cycle of low productivity, vulnerability, and poverty. By providing farmers with knowledge and tools about modern agricultural practices, agricultural advisory services can be a critical force for change. However, the development of these organizations in Ukraine now meets such challenges as low level of governmental support for agriculture advisory activities, understaffing of agricultural advisory services, and confusing mechanisms of cooperation with formal institutions for agricultural advisory services organizations in Ukraine etc. Scientific novelty. This study has investigated the current perspectives and challenges of agricultural advisory services in Ukraine. It has highlighted perspective points of development and improvement for such organizations to support further rural development in Ukraine. In particular, governmental development programs to promote the agricultural advisory activities for both rural smallholder farmers and local authorities, creating the mechanisms of cooperation between agricultural advisory service organizations and formal institutions in Ukraine, support of professional development for advisors and experts, etc. Practical significance. Summarising the achieved and analysed data, scientists and policymakers to develop the support programs for agricultural advisory service organizations to support rural smallholder businesses and to improve the living standards of rural communities may use the results of the study. Tabl.: 2. Figs.: 3. Refs.: 14.