Prospects for bean cultivation in Ukraine

Abstract

Purpose. To analyse the current state and prospects of bean cultivation in Ukraine, as well as to analyse scientific sources regarding the peculiarities of common bean cultivation depending on various soil and climatic conditions. Methods. The methodological tool included comparative analysis, synthesis, expert assessment and theoretical generalisation. Results. Under current conditions, scientists and agricultural producers do not pay enough attention to improving the technological aspects of common bean cultivation. At the same time, beans could partially solve the problem of feed and food protein deficiency. In addition, bean pods contain a significant amount of vitamins and amino acids that have a positive effect on digestive processes in the human body. A particularly valuable feature of this crop is its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in symbiosis with nodule bacteria and partially accumulate it in the soil. This is a very important function that helps maintain high soil fertility. Beans are considered a very good precursor, especially for winter grain crops. It is worth noting that in the pre-war year of 2021, the area under beans was 48.0 thousand hectares, the gross seed yield was 753.6 thousand tonnes, and the average yield in Ukraine was 15.7 tonnes per hectare. In 2022, there was a significant decrease in the area under cultivation to 37.0 thousand hectares, and the gross seed yield decreased to 588.7 thousand centners. However, according to data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, in 2024, bean production exceeded pre-war levels. At the same time, the harvested area was 51.2 thousand hectares, and the gross seed yield was 795.9 thousand centners. More than half of the bean production in Ukraine is concentrated in five regions: Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, Vinnytsia, and Zhytomyr. Findings. Due to their nutritional and taste qualities, bean products are becoming increasingly popular in Ukraine and worldwide, and the area under cultivation is growing. Therefore, analysis of global experience in growing this crop will enable Ukrainian farmers to be more competitive in the global market.