Agricultural land market in Ukraine

Abstract

Land resources are not only one of the main natural resources, but also the most important factor in the economic development of the country. With the opening of the market for agricultural land, this resource has become expensive. The moratorium on land sales, which lasted for about 20 years, did not allow citizens to freely dispose of their land rights. But with the adoption of the Law of Ukraine «On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on the Conditions of Circulation of Agricultural Land» from 31.03.2020 № 552–IX, this right was allowed. In this article, we analyzed the market of expropriated agricultural land for one hundred days and 6 months from the beginning of its introduction. The information base was provided by domestic laws and regulations on the economics of nature management, environmental protection, materials and reports of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, the State Service for Geodesy, Cartography and Cadastre of Ukraine. We also used statistical and comparative research methods. Land reforms in Ukraine began with the beginning of independence and continue to this day. After the adoption of the above-mentioned Law, a new stage of land reform began in Ukraine. In the first hundred days, most land plots were expropriated and registered in Kharkiv and Kyiv oblasts, and the smallest — in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts. At the same time, the largest area of expropriated plots was registered in Kirovohrad and Kharkiv oblasts, and the smallest — in Chernivtsi and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts. The most expensive land was in Kyiv and Kharkiv oblasts, and the cheapest — in Chernivtsi and Zakarpattia oblasts. All this is explained by the fact that in Kharkiv, Kyiv and Kirovohrad oblasts chernozem soils predominate, which have a high humus content and, accordingly, a higher price, in Chernivtsi and Zakarpattia oblasts sod-podzolic and brown earth soils predominate, which are less fertile, accordingly, the price is lower. Chernozem soils also predominate in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, but due to the temporary occupation of these oblasts, the number of expropriated land plots is smaller and cheaper than in other oblasts. In seven months, the situation on the land market has not changed. This indicates that the land market operates in Ukraine.