Formation of the agricultural advisory service network in Ukraine is a priority area of the state agricultural policy as set forth in Article 2 of the Law of Ukraine “On Stimulation of Agriculture Development for 2001-2004", adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in January 2001.

This was determined by fundamental changes taking place in the agricultural sector in the course of agricultural reforms. The changes had further development following the Presidential Decree dated 3 December 1999 "On Urgent Measures to Accelerate Reforms in the Agricultural Sector". Pursuant to the Decree collective agricultural enterprises were reorganized to form a basis for around 15.3 thousand farm enterprises set up on the principle of private land and property ownership, i.e. private enterprises, limited liability companies etc., which together with 43 thousand family farms and 12.8 million private households laid the institutional foundation of private farming in rural areas.

New farm enterprises and private households faced a number of problems due to their operating in current market conditions. They need advanced knowledge in the sphere of farm management and marketing, innovative agricultural technologies etc. Their demand for such services promoted initiation of advisory service centres in Ukraine. One of the first farmer information support centres was established in early 1990-es by Yosyp Detsovskiy in Zalischyky, Ternopil oblast. An EU Tacis project was initiated in Lviv oblast to create advisory services in 1995. The Project was launched in 1998 and was recognised as the most successful Tacis project in Ukraine in 2000. Lviv Agricultural Advisory Service (LAAS) with its central office in Lviv and 5 rayon offices in Busk, Horodok, Drohobych, Stryj and Kamyanka-Buzka began its activities in July 2000. Lviv oblast agricultural producers have prized LAAS activities and it is difficult for them to imagine their efficient operation without advice, demonstration and information support provided by the advisory service. The idea of advisory service formation in Ukraine was taken up by the British Government technical assistance projects in 1995. An Information and Consultation Centre on CAE Reorganisation and Land Privatisation was established in Donetsk. In 1998, a state-owned company Coordination Centre “DonetskAgroReform” was established on its basis and a new British Government-funded Agricultural Enterprise Support Project was launched. Both assisted in the creation of a Donetsk Agrarian Advisory Service – “Donetskagroconsult”. At present “Donetskagroconsult” is a limited liability company with five rayon advisory offices providing efficient advisory services, including paid ones.

British Government technical assistance came to Odesa oblast in May 1996 as a Large Farm Restructuring Project (LFRP). In addition to reorganisation CAEs received advice on farm business management, business planning, economic analysis etc. Later, 1 December 1998, a private entity Consultagro was established on LFRP’s basis to implement a Farm and Rural Community Support Project funded by the British Department for International Development (DFID) in Odesa oblast. Currently, Consultagro has a highly qualified team providing advice on agro-industrial production organisation, advanced agricultural technology, resolution of rural social sphere issues, and agricultural market information support.

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