Agrarian Economy 2018 Т. 11 № 1-2:5-14

CONCEPT OF NICHE CULTURES AND THEIR PLACE IN THE DIVERSIFICATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

I.Cherevko, candidate of economic sciences, associate professor

Lviv National Agrarian University

ANNOTATION

In the agrarian economy of Ukraine, under conditions of its dualization, there are more and more niches, which are taken objectively by small producers of the type of farmer and individual farms of the population, because those features of these farms, which, in comparison with agriholdings, make them weak, according to certain niches make these farms strong. It is about growing crops that do not require large areas, but can provide a high yield per unit of land. In the analyzed publications, it is noted that the production of niche crops can be very beneficial and has a number of advantages. Even different ratings of niche cultures have been made in terms of their types in terms of their profitability and export efficiency. The main purpose of this article is to present the results of the study of the concept of niche cultures and their place in the process of diversification of agricultural production and increase the efficiency of functioning of small-scale farmer and individual households. The methodology of the research includes both methods of general science, the use of which allowed to process existing information on the notion of niche cultures and their role in the process of the activities of agricultural small and medium enterprises in the countryside diversifying, as well as methods of economic research - to substantiate the existing comparative advantages and disadvantages of the niche development direction of agriculture. Monographic method of research is widely used. It has been established that the main problem in the development of so-called "niche agrarian business" in Ukraine is the lack of relevant experience and technologies, although there are some very dynamic positive changes in this plan, because the interest in this direction of entrepreneurship development in the village is high, especially taking into account high demand for its products abroad. According to most researchers and practitioners, the main criteria, that give grounds for the inclusion of certain crops into the category of niche are, in the opinion of most researchers and practitioners, the following: the underdevelopment of a particular market, the excess of demand for supply, low competition in the sector of production of cultivation of this crop, high purchasing prices and high level of profitability per unit of cultivating area at the relatively minimal need of this area, the high proportion of the intangible (intellectual) component in value added and the price of the realization. An important feature of niche crops is that they are usually quite resource-consuming in growing and their production is rather difficult or impossible to scale up at all. On the basis of these criteria, the following can be include to the group of niche cultures in Ukraine today: berries - blueberries, bigblueberries (lokhyna), cranberries, raspberries, honeysuckle, blackberries and strawberries; nuts; muskat pumpkin, sorghum, spices, fresh herbs, flax, saffron, exotic cereals (spelled, rye, cinoa), vegetables - asparagus, shallot, lemon, sweet potato, pumpkin and garlic, and all organic products; fruit crops - plum, apricot, walnut; exotic mushrooms; practically all beans, in particular - lentils, chickpeas, mash, beans, beans and even peas. Nowadays and in the near future, vermiculture and beekeeping are likely to be effective areas of niche agribusiness.

KEY WORDS

niche cultures, diversification, criteria, features, efficiency.

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