PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE POTATO MARKET IN UKRAINE UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF QUARANTINE AND WAR RESTRICTIONS

Introduction. The article presents the results of the analysis of the potato market in Ukraine under quarantine and war restrictions. The main problems of the development of the potato market, caused by the introduction of measures aimed at preventing the spread of the acute respiratory disease COVID-19 caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and the largescale Russian invasion on the territory of Ukraine, have been identified. According to the obtained results, the main ways of increasing the efficiency of potato production and revitalizing the potato market in Ukraine are proposed. The aim of the study. To analyze the potato market in Ukraine under the conditions of quarantine and war restrictions, to determine its main problems and prospects for development. Materials and methods. The research used scientific methods: abstract-logical, statistical grouping, analysis and synthesis, marketing, tabular. The use of these methods is based on a dialectical approach. Research results. The share of potato acreage in the structure of crop production in Ukraine, the volume and dynamics of the gross harvest and yield of potatoes, including by farm category, was analyzed. The negative impact on the potato market of unfavorable natural and climatic conditions and restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic and a large-scale war has been established. Using deterministic factor analysis techniques, the dominant influence of households on the potato market was assessed and substantiated. In order to improve the efficiency of potato production and revive the potato market in Ukraine, the following is proposed: – stimulation by the state of investment processes in the potato industry with monetary and fiscal policy instruments; – development of the infrastructure of the potato market (legal support of market subjects; insurance against business risks; ensuring equality of conditions, transparency and parity of relations in the sale of categories of potatoes and processed products from it in accordance with the requests of the population; regulation of the labor market, especially in terms of reservations, etc.); – increasing soil fertility and rational use of agricultural land; – providing farms of all categories with certified seed material of new generation potato varieties; – development of new resource-saving and knowledge-intensive technologies of potato production and processing. Prospects. The above establishes benchmarks for further studies of the prospects for the development of the potato market in Ukraine and will allow to increase the competitiveness of potato products in the conditions of military restrictions with the aim of the entry of domestic producers, processors and other participants of the potato market to the EU market.