Development of Crop Production in Ukraine in the Context of Institutional Restructuring and External Shocks.

The article provides a comprehensive study of the development of crop production in Ukraine in 2010–2024 through the lens of institutional restructuring of the agrarian economy and the impact of external shocks. The object of the study is the dynamics, structure, and performance of crop production within the agricultural system, as well as the transformation of the roles of agricultural enterprises and households under market changes, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the full-scale military invasion. The aim of the article is to quantitatively assess long-term structural shifts in favour of crop production, determine its contribution to the cyclical nature of aggregate agricultural output, compare how different categories of farms respond to shock impacts, and interpret changes in labour productivity with consideration of crisis-driven adaptation. The information base comprises official statistical materials of the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, which ensure comparability of estimates in constant 2021 prices. Methodologically, the study applies structural and dynamic analysis, comparisons of growth rates and indices across farm categories, and an assessment of labour productivity in enterprises with a focus on crop production. The results confirm a steady increase in the share of crop production in gross agricultural output to over 80% and a strengthening concentration of production in enterprises alongside a simultaneous decline in the share of household farms. It is shown that crop production determines the amplitude of fluctuations in agricultural output, while after 2020 a high-instability regime intensified; in 2022–2024, security and logistics constraints became the dominant factors. A change in the mechanism of labour productivity growth during the wartime period is identified, as its increase may reflect structural restructuring and a reduction in employment. Managerial priorities for enhancing the resilience of crop production are substantiated, including risk management instruments, diversification, and the development of storage, post-harvest handling, and alternative export logistics.