In the midst of a tense agricultural season, the time of farmers is extremely valuable, and tearing them away from work in the field is not an easy task. However, on June 3-4, thousands of farmers from the entire region will gather in the village of Sozonivka.
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The reason is special: the region is hosting the significant Field Day “AGRO KIROVOHRADSHCHYNA” 2026. This event from the very beginning goes beyond the usual – it is intended to become the main business platform of Central Ukraine, where practical issues of profitability and optimization of agribusiness are addressed.
For the Kirovohrad region, the agricultural sector is not just statistics, but a real foundation that provides a third of the region’s total value added. That is why holding its own, local Field Day of such magnitude is always an anticipated and strategic event. The opportunity to directly evaluate new technologies on native land, test energy-efficient units in real work, and negotiate advantageous financial instruments with manufacturers is a direct path to increasing the profitability of each farm.
The organizers of the event, Agro Team Expo, this year focused precisely on the regional specifics. Instead of abstract solutions, they focus on what is relevant for local farmers: adaptation to climate change in Central Ukraine, precision farming, reducing production costs, and efficient logistics.
How does the region support farmers, where can businesses find new growth points, and what expectations are placed on this grand debut? On the eve of the Field Day “AGRO KIROVOHRADSHCHYNA,” we had an open conversation with the Head of the Kirovohrad Regional State Administration, Andriy Raikovych.
Agro Team Expo: Does Kirovohradshchyna remain an agrarian region?
Undoubtedly, agricultural production, land – are our main markers. Although the challenges of the time require balancing and promoting the development of various industries, as diversifying the regional economy allows to mitigate risks.
However, looking purely at the numbers, the share of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in the total gross value added of the region consistently remains at about 30%.
Real production and statistics confirm the agricultural focus of the region, as on average in Ukraine, the share of agriculture in the gross domestic product usually accounts for about 10-14%.
Agro Team Expo: Does this ratio also remain in the structure of the region’s land fund?
Here it is even more pronounced in favor of the agro-industrial complex. Agricultural production involves 1,768.9 thousand hectares of arable land, which constitutes 71.8% of the total area of the region and 5.4% of the total arable land in Ukraine.
The presence of fertile black soil, a sample of quality preserved in the Paris Bureau of Weights and Measures, contributes to the development of a powerful plant growing and processing industry. In the structure of the region’s agricultural gross production, crop production accounts for 88.9%, and livestock farming – 11.1%.
Agro Team Expo: Is it correct to understand that the agricultural sector is the largest employer in the region?
We observe a gradual decrease in the total number of employees in the agro-industrial complex, but this is associated with processes outside the industry, including demographic and migration ones.
And how many farmers have exchanged a combine, a tractor for a tank… Many guys are on the battlefield for Ukraine. In 2024, the number of employed workers in enterprises of the Kirovohrad region in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries compared to the 2021 figures decreased by 8%.
Certainly, some jobs are being cut due to automation and increased production efficiency – this is an integral part of technical and scientific progress. But currently, automation is only trying to compensate for the physical reduction in the number of skilled workers. This is where our key task lies – to organize work for the rural population, the youth, so that the village lives, has a future.
Along with this, the agro-industrial sector remains key to the region’s economy, covering a significant portion of entrepreneurial activity.
Agro Team Expo: Kirovohrad region is among the 16 safe regions recommended by the state for relocating facilities. Tell us how this has affected the number of agricultural enterprises in the region
The number of registered legal entities in our region demonstrates a gradual increase, despite the difficult conditions of the state of war.
An increase of almost 400 units of agricultural enterprises occurred from 2021 to 2025.
It should be noted that the share of active enterprises decreased over four years from 80% to 73%. Considering that for the fifth year – it’s a big war, Kirovohradshchyna has become a haven for 15 relocated agro-industrial enterprises during the full-scale invasion. These are enterprises engaged in the production of flour-milling and cereal industry products, mini-bakeries, milk processing plants, butter and cheese producers, as well as the production of auxiliary materials and technical services. The total number of employees is over 65 people.
We strive to create a regime of maximum economic and social comfort for them.
However, unfortunately, in Ukraine, due to the actions of the Russian aggressor, there are absolutely no safe regions. How many grain fields, agricultural complexes have been destroyed by enemy fire over these years, in our region…
Agro Team Expo: How significant are the contributions of agricultural enterprises to the region’s budget?
The agro-industrial complex remains one of the key contributors to the consolidated budget of the region. As of January 1, 2026, the enterprises of the agro-industrial complex contributed UAH 6.8 billion to the consolidated budget of the region, which is about 30% of all revenues. Including by sectors: agriculture – UAH 5.57 billion, or 81% of the industry’s revenues; food industry and processing of agricultural products – UAH 1.22 billion, or 17% of all revenues, fish industry – UAH 14 million, or 0.2% of all revenues in the industry.
It is worth noting that last year, revenues to the consolidated budget of the region from the agricultural sector increased by 22% compared to 2024.
Agro Team Expo: The regional administration officially supports the holding of the Field Day “AGRO KIROVOHRADSHCHYNA” 2026 in the village of Sozonivka. What is the meaning of such a partnership?
Yes, these are already traditional events in the agricultural space of the region, which this year are being scaled to a new level. We are directly interested in the development and growth of all enterprises in the region. Business activity improves the employment situation, provides tax revenues, stimulates the development of social projects. The agrarian business is one of the pillars of the regional and national economy, so supporting such events aimed at its growth is one of the logical priorities.
The format of state support is consistently shifting towards stimulating business initiatives, particularly in terms of technical upgrades and deep processing, but without top-down directives. Therefore, entrepreneurs have the opportunity to determine the optimal development directions supported by the state. And it is best to do this in the circle of professionals and like-minded people who gather at such events.
Agro Team Expo: What do you expect from holding the Field Day “AGRO KIROVOHRADSHCHYNA” 2026?
Someone wise once said: if you stand still, you are already falling behind. Despite the war, the agricultural sector in Ukraine is actively developing, new solutions and technologies are emerging that need to be tracked and implemented in your work in order not to “stand still.”
I am pleased that in our regional center, there are many local manufacturers of agricultural machinery that will be presented at the Field Day. For example, the company AgroKar recently started producing domestically made SPIKE series tractors. Therefore, we expect that the opportunity for farmers to directly familiarize themselves with the latest technical innovations and practices within the region will contribute to the growth of agricultural innovation in the region and increase the efficiency of agribusiness, and as a result – increase its competitiveness.
In conclusion
The conversation with the head of the region only confirms: modern agriculture no longer forgives outdated approaches and passivity. To remain a market leader and maintain profitability, it is necessary to move forward today.
That is why the Field Day “AGRO KIROVOHRADSHCHYNA” 2026 in the village of Sozonivka becomes a must-visit for everyone who connects their future with Ukrainian land.
The organizers from Agro Team Expo have gathered everything necessary for a comprehensive update of farms in one place. The next step is up to the farmers.
We invite you to join the event on June 3-4.
See you in the field!