HORTICULTURE OF NORTHERN BESSARABIA: POTENTIAL FOR TRANSITION TO ORGANIC FARMING

Abstract

Relevance of the study: due to the strengthening of global trends in the transition to environmentally friendly models of agricultural production, the growth of demand for organic products and the need to ensure sustainable development of rural areas. In the context of the transformation of the agricultural sector of Ukraine, special attention is required to assess the regional features of the development of horticulture, in particular within Northern Bessarabia, which is characterized by significant agro-resource potential, but at the same time faces restrictions on the implementation of organic technologies. Subject of the study: territorial and sectoral features of the development of horticulture in Northern Bessarabia as a component of the agricultural complex of the Chernivtsi region. The purpose of the article is a comprehensive assessment of the current state and dynamics of the development of horticulture in the region, determination of the natural resource, economic and organizational prerequisites for the transition of the industry to organic farming, as well as substantiation of the prospects for sustainable development of rural areas. Methodological basis of the study: general scientific and geographical methods of cognition, in particular analysis and synthesis, statistical, comparative-geographical and historical-geographical approaches, system analysis, as well as methods of generalization and spatial interpretation of data. The information base was formed by official statistical materials, data from agricultural enterprises and farms, scientific publications and regulatory documents in the field of organic production. Research results: it was established that Northern Bessarabia plays a leading role in the horticultural industry of Chernivtsi region, providing 60–80% of the total production of fruit and berry products. It was found that the growth of production occurs mainly due to an increase in the yield of garden plantings, which during 2012–2024 increased by 1.8 times – from 91.9 to 169 centners/ha. The infrastructural support of the industry, the dynamics of orchard renewal and the spatial structure of fruit and berry crops in the private sector are characterized. Scope of practical application: the results cover regional planning of agricultural development, the activities of local governments, agricultural enterprises and farms, the creation of comprehensive mechanisms for the development of gastronomic tourism, as well as use in scientific research and the educational process. Conclusions: it is substantiated that Northern Bessarabia has significant agro-resource and production potential for the transition to organic gardening, the implementation of gastronomic tourism practices, which can become an important factor in the sustainable development of rural areas and increasing the competitiveness of regional products. The prospect of further research is to assess the economic efficiency of the transition to organic production, develop models for integrating horticultural farms into tourism clusters, and substantiate adaptation measures to climate change in the context of regional agricultural production.