Poltavska oblast is one of the Ukrainian regions, which is historically regarded as the most perspective one in successful keeping of agricultural production because of the existence of chemozem soil with the high humus level in the region. But geographically it belongs to the left-bank Ukraine and is situated in the zone of insufficient humidity. In these conditions the soil cultivation is one of the main factors of prolificacy preservation and prevention of water and wind soil erosion.

The recognized leader among the regional agricultural enterprises is the private agricultural enterprise “Agroecology” which is in Shyshatsky district and which cultivates soil without plough during 23 years. During the period a great number of agricultural aggregates and machines were worked out and modernized, they allow to cultivate the soil not deeper than 5cm. It gives a possibility to keep the natural soil prolificacy and its humidity. Besides during the last 4 years the farm completely refused from using of mineral fertilizers and pesticides. Independently of weather-climatic conditions PE “Agroecology” annually gets stable harvests of agricultural cultures. The work of the farm was highly appreciated by the German and Austrian specialists, who carry out joint scientific researches on its basis nowadays. The owner of the enterprise was conferred the rank of the “Hero of Ukraine”.

On the basis of the farm from July 2001 (by the civil organization “Agrarian Science and Practice”) the realization of the project ID 204 “The organization of the school of ecological agriculture” of International Bank of Reconstruction and Development is carried out.

The aim of the project is the creation of the school of ecological agriculture, which would assist to popularize the experience of the farm, and also the introduction of new working-outs and achievements of the world science that favour the keeping of ecological agriculture. On the basis of the school they plan to conduct seminars, trainings and retraining for agricultural specialists according to ecologically grounded programmes, which are going to be worked out by the specialists of the institute. Besides this, the task of the project is creation of consulting center of rendering the consulting services to agricultural enterprises as the problems of agroecology and placing the information on the web-site for distant training in ecological agriculture-keeping fundamentals using the Internet.

The results of the project realization at the time:

Excursion-seminar under the name “Holiday of the First Sheaf” for the regional representatives and agricultural farms of Poltavska oblast;

2 ecological trainings, during which the participants had a possibility to make the acquaintance of technological processes and agricultural aggregates which are used in ecological agriculture more in detail;

Meeting of the farm’s specialists with advanced specialists of Ecological Agriculture University “BOKU” (Vienna, Austria) Dr. H. Grausgruber and Dr. J. Friedel. Thanks to this arrangement the specialists of the farm enabled in the project have improved their professional qualification with regard to new achievements of European ecological science;

Seminar “Ecological-economic aspects of agricultural enterprises of Europe and systems of their internal farming planning” with the assistance of SIM-expert Dr. R. Pleuse (Frankfurt-upon-Main, FRG), the Master of business administration of the Applied Sciences’ University “Weihenstephan” M. Dubynets and director “Agroconsulting” Ltd O.M. Demchenko;

Together with Poltava State Agrarian Academy teaching staff there were curriculum, working programmes worked out and training materials on theoretical studies for students of the school of ecological agriculture prepared; During the period covered in the report Poltava State Agrarian Academy’s and PE “Agroecology” studying rooms for theoretical and practical trainings were equipped.