LAND USE OPTIMIZATION IN UKRAINE AT THE STAGE OF LAND MARKET FORMATION

In the context of the reform of the sale of agricultural land, the priority is to optimize land use, which is to find a balance of land that would meet their environmental, economic and social compliance with the functions of the agricultural sector. Two main approaches to the optimization process are considered. The first is by intensifying agriculture with significant energy costs, land depletion and the inevitable increase in environmental pressures. And the second is the gradual formation of a balanced agrosphere with alternative agriculture and environmentally friendly livestock. The structure of land plots in terms of regions of Ukraine, which in the conditions of the land market does not promote balanced land use, is analyzed. Acquired arable land will not be transferred to other categories of land at auctions, even if it is significantly degraded. When forming the pricing policy in the land sector, it is important to compare the value of arable land in Ukraine and European countries. This comparative analysis shows the underestimated value of arable land in Ukraine (the lowest figure in Europe is less than 1 thousand euros / ha) at the initial stage of sale. It is estimated that the six-year lease of arable land at this stage of land reform is more appropriate than their sale. The fact of plowing part of pastures under these conditions and increasing the share of arable land in river valleys, drained lands, etc. is alarming. According to the results of the calculations, Table 1 shows the value of arable land, pastures, hayfields by administrative regions. The comparative characteristic of agricultural lands on the available highly productive lands is carried out. The highest share of such lands in Ternopil, Poltava and Cherkasy oblasts was found out, which provides for their highest valuation. The created map diagram of the general cost assessment of agricultural lands demonstrates their land resource potential and reflects the spatial differentiation of this indicator by typological groups of regions. The authors analyzed the optimization model of land use in Ukraine, developed by a group of leading domestic scientists under the project "Sustainable Development Programs", and proposed to consider the category of productive lands as basic arable lands, the share of which in Ukraine is 44.8% of arable land. The directions of reforming land relations in Ukraine taking into account historical traditions and granting the highest status of the basic land user - the rural community are offered. At the same time to make calculations, based on the results of which to identify production types (specialization) of farms, which will be the most objective, as it takes into account local natural and economic conditions; - on the basis of specialization of peasant farms, study of types of land use in enterprises of various forms of ownership and data on natural land fertility to perform agricultural zoning of the territory; - in each allocated agricultural area, the whole array of land in use, divided into at least 3 groups: 1) lands of peasant farms, which over time should be granted the right of life ownership with the possibility of inheritance and on which the state should support non-profit, subsistence farming; 2) lands withdrawn from agricultural circulation due to the destruction of their natural fertility and those to be transferred to the nature reserve fund, and, over time, included in the national ecological network; 3) lands that have not yet lost their natural fertility and those that are in the use of agricultural enterprises of various forms of ownership. Key words: land optimization, monetary valuation of agricultural lands, land resource potential, spatial differentiation of lands, land relations.