Impact of human capital on the efficiency of resource management and production processes in agricultural enterprises

Oleksandr Bilichenko, Oksana Bolshaia
Abstract

The study aimed to determine the effect of human potential on management decisions and production. The methodological foundation of the study was an empirical approach, incorporating descriptive, dynamic, structural and comparative analysis of official statistics, analysis of relative labour market indicators, case studies and analysis of human capital management practices of leading agricultural enterprises. Based on the results of 2020 and mid-2025, the number of employees in the agriculture sector increased by 3.5%, while average monthly nominal wage increased from UAH 9,737 in 2020 to over UAH 21,413 in the first quarter of 2025, exceeding UAH 25,000 for certain roles. Given the labour shortage, the increase in labour costs has strengthened the role of staff quality in resource management. The study established that staff qualifications, investment, and motivation improved labour productivity by 5-15% and enterprise profitability by 10-20%, while results-oriented remuneration systems increased the performed volume of work by 20-25%. The share of agriculture in Ukrainian GDP reached approximately 17% in 2024, reflecting structural transformations in the labour force. Human capital management practices analysed using the examples of Myronivsky Hliboproduct, Kernel and Astarta-Kyiv showed a 15-20% reduction in staff turnover, a 10-30% increase in labour productivity, and an 85-95% increase in the efficiency of material and technical resources, which reduced operating losses by 15-25%. The practical significance of the study is determined by the possibility of using the results obtained by agricultural enterprises to improve the efficiency of personnel and resource management

Keywords

unemployment; productivity; competencies; qualifications; wages; motivation

Suggested citation
Bilichenko, O., & Bolshaia, O. (2026). Impact of human capital on the efficiency of resource management and production processes in agricultural enterprises. Economics and Business Management, 17(1), 85-101. https://doi.org/10.31548/economics/1.2026.85
References
  1. Antonioli, D., Ghisetti, C., Mazzanti, M., Nicolli, F., & Quatrosi, M. (2025). “Twin transition” and HRM practices: Empirical evidence from Italian firms. Industry and Innovation, 32(10), 1184-1203. doi: 10.1080/13662716.2025.2516036.
  2. Astarta-Kyiv. (2025a). Astarta and EBRD develop distance education for Ukrainian farmers. Retrieved from https://astartaholding.com/astarta-ta-yebrr-rozvyvayut-dystanczijnu-osvitu-dlya-ukrayinskyh-agrariyiv/.
  3. Astarta-Kyiv. (2025b). Astarta published its report for 2024. Retrieved from https://astartaholding.com/astarta-oprylyudnyla-zvit-za-2024-rik/.
  4. Becker, G.S. (1962). Investment in human capital: A theoretical analysis. Journal of Political Economy, 70(5(2)), 9-49.
  5. Bilichenko, O.S. (2015). Investment in human capital. Bulletin of the V.V. Dokuchaev KhNAU. Series “Economic Sciences”, 1, 97-102.
  6. Bilous, O. (2025). Official unemployment in Ukraine has fallen to a historic low. Retrieved from https://www.rbc.ua/rus/news/ofitsiyne-bezrobittya-ukrayini-vpalo-istorichnogo-1737368999.html.
  7. Bin, M., & Qiong, H. (2024). Research on the rural revitalization process driven by human capital: Based on farmers’ professionalization perspective. SAGE Open, 14(2). doi: 10.1177/21582440241249252.
  8. Bolshaia, O.V., & Bilyk, A.V. (2022). The role of personnel in modern enterprises. In M.V. Grynieva (Ed.), Proceedings of the international scientific and practical conference “Methodology of teaching natural disciplines in secondary and higher schools” (XXIX Karyshyn readings), dedicated to the development of models of training future teachers for pedagogical activity in the new Ukrainian school (pp. 32-34). Poltava: Astraya.
  9. Buchana, Y., Sinyolo, S., Ramoroka, K., & Phakathi, S. (2025). Employee diversity and innovation performance among agricultural businesses: Evidence from South Africa. Innovation and Development. doi: 10.1080/2157930X.2025.2577526.
  10. Dávila, M.A.M., Pantaleón, A.J.S., Rios, I.D.M., Bueloth, M.R., & Espinoza, O. (2025). Analysis of production factors determining agricultural productivity in Cuispes. Scientific Horizons, 28(4), 98-106. doi: 10.48077/scihor4.2025.98.
  11. Deme, E.H.Y., & Doli, S.A. (2025). Human capital and agricultural development: Impact of FDI in the WAEMU. Research on World Agricultural Economy, 6(1), 600-613. doi: 10.36956/rwae.v6i1.1477.
  12. Dvornyk, I. (2021). Labor productivity in agriculture. Ukrainian Journal of Applied Economics and Technology, 6(2), 245-251. doi: 10.36887/2415-8453-2021-2-30.
  13. Forbes. (n.d.). Kernel. Retrieved from https://forbes.ua/profile/kernel-220.
  14. Frijat, Y.S.A., & Elamer, A.A. (2024). Human capital efficiency, corporate sustainability, and performance: Evidence from emerging economies. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 32(2), 1457-1472. doi: 10.1002/csr.3013.
  15. Grishnova, O. (2025). Effective models of human capital management based on digital technologies. Bulletin of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Economics, 1(226), 39-47. doi: 10.17721/1728-2667.2025/226-1/5.
  16. Hu, Y., Yu, H., & Yang, X. (2023). Can rural human capital improve agricultural ecological efficiency? Empirical evidence from China. Sustainability, 15(16), article number 12317. doi: 10.3390/su151612317.
  17. In 2021, more than 10% of GDP was generated in agriculture, – Leshchenko. (2022). Retrieved from https://propozitsiya.com/news/u-2021-rotsi-ponad-10-vvp-vyrobyly-u-silskomu-hospodarstvi-leshchenko.
  18. Jin, H., & Liu, H. (2025). How does human capital affect food security? A perspective of specialization. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, article number 1633830. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1633830.
  19. Kalynovskyi, A.O., Bretsko, Y.M., & Smagliy, A.O. (2024). Analysis of human capital development models in the context of post-war recovery in Ukraine. Academic Visions, 31. doi: 10.5281/zenodo.11296440.
  20. Kernel agroholding uses microlearning technologies to train employees. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.agronom.com.ua/v-agroholdyngu-kernel-zastosovuyut-tehnologiyi-microlearning-dlya-navchannya-spivrobitnykiv/#:~:text=%.
  21. Kernel HR strategy. How the company ensures stability: 99% staffing and minimal staff turnover even in wartime. (2025). Retrieved from https://forbes.ua/company/hr-strategiya-kernel-yak-kompaniya-zabezpechue-stabilnist-99-ukomplektovanogo-shtatu-ta-minimalnu-plinnist-kadriv-navit-v-umovakh-viyni-30042025-29079.
  22. Kernel HUB. (n.d). Retrieved from https://education.kernel.ua/.
  23. Kernel. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.kernel.ua/ua/.
  24. Khadzhinova, O., & Hryshyn, A. (2025). Digital technologies in the management of anagricultural enterprise. Reporter of the Priazovskyi State Technical University Section: Economic Sciences, 41, 10-18. doi: 10.31498/2225-6725.41.2025.332383.
  25. Kozik, M. (2025). Development of human capital potential in agricultural entrepreneurship: From strategy to achieved results. Social Economics, 71, 35-44. doi: 10.26565/2524-2547-2025-71-04.
  26. Krysovatyy, I. (2025). Development of human capital in the agricultural sector: Digitalization and inclusion. World of Finance, 1(82), 116-128. doi: 10.35774/sf2025.01.116.
  27. Lanchenko, Ye. (2023). Organization of pay of labor in agricultural enterprises. AIC Economics and Management, 2, 96-110. doi: 10.33245/2310-9262-2023-185-2-96-110.
  28. Lei, X., Zhao, W., & Du, H. (2025). Study on the impact of new quality productive forces on agricultural green production efficiency. Scientific Reports, 15, article number 20652. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-06980-0.
  29. Lesik, I., Bobrovska, N., Bilichenko, O., Dranus, L., Lykhach, V., Dranus, V., Stoian, O., Kolevatova, A., & Nazarenko, I. (2020). Assessment of management efficiency and infrastructure development of Ukraine. Management Science Letters, 10, 3071-3080. doi: 10.5267/j.msl.2020.5.016.
  30. Li, X., & Jin, Y. (2025). A study of spatial spillover effects of rural human capital on agroecological wellbeing performance: Based on empirical data analysis at the provincial in China. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9, article number 1570357. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2025.1570357.
  31. Lisnichenko, O. (2018). Evolution of the concept of human capital. Economy and State, 12, 25-30. doi: 10.32702/2306-6806.2018.12.25.
  32. LMS Collaborator. (n.d.). Kernel. Retrieved from https://collaborator.biz/stories/kernel/.
  33. Major agricultural producer speeds up brand transformation via citizen development and automation. (2021). Retrieved from https://news.microsoft.com/en-cee/2021/10/01/major-agricultural-producer-speeds-up-brand-transformation-via-citizen-development-and-automation/.
  34. MHP. (n.d.a). How we train the team. Retrieved from https://life.mhp4u.com.ua/education/.
  35. MHP. (n.d.b). Sustainable development. Retrieved from https://mhp.com.ua/uk/stalyy-rozvytok.
  36. Minfin. (n.d.a). Average monthly salary by type of economic activity in 2025 (UAH). Retrieved from https://index.minfin.com.ua/ua/labour/salary/average/branch/2025/.
  37. Minfin. (n.d.b). Number of registered unemployed. Retrieved from https://index.minfin.com.ua/ua/labour/unemploy/register/2020/.
  38. Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine & WinWin. (n.d.). Industry strategy: Agrotech (Agricultural and food technologies). Retrieved from https://winwin.gov.ua/assets/files/U%D0%90_AgroFoodTech.pdf.
  39. Ogrezeanu, M., Capatina, A., & Pocol, C.B. (2025). The impact of human resource management practices on farms development and succession planning – A PLS-SEM approach. Annals of “Dunarea de Jos” University of Galati, Fascicle I. Economics and Applied Informatics, 31(1), 5-12. doi: 10.35219/eai15840409481.
  40. Pepelya, V. (2023). In 2023, every fifth worker in agriculture will be laid off – study. Retrieved from https://landlord.ua/news/politika/u-2023-rotsi-v-silskomu-hospodarstvi-skorotiat-kozhnoho-p-iatoho-pratsivnyka-doslidzhennia.
  41. Ptashchenko, O.V., & Shersheniuk, O.M. (2024). Human capital development of agricultural enterprises in the conditions of transformational changes in the digital economy. Journal of Strategic Economic Research, 2, 56-64. doi: 10.30857/2786-5398.2024.2.6.
  42. Pyrohov, Ye., Chub, O., & Prusova, G. (2025). Intellectual capital management of agricultural enterprises: Performance assessment and strategic priorities. Ukrainian Journal of Applied Economics and Technology, 10(2), 386-390. doi: 10.36887/2415-8453-2025-2-75.
  43. Radchenko, O. (2025). Strategy for innovative development of human capital in the agricultural sector. Transformational Economics, 4(9), 47-52. doi: 10.32782/2786-8141/2024-9-8.
  44. Razumkov Centre. (2024). Labor resources for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine: State, problems, ways to solution: Analytical report of the Razumkov Center. Retrieved from https://razumkov.org.ua/images/2024/10/16/2024-Pyshchulina-TRUDJVI-RESURS-UKR-SAIT.pdf.
  45. Saha, S., Alam, M.J., Al Abbasi, A.A., Begum, I.A., Rola-Rubzen, M.F., & McKenzie, A.M. (2025). Impact of human capital and remittances on agricultural productivity in Bangladesh. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 22, article number 102073. doi: 10.1016/j.jafr.2025.102073.
  46. Sánchez-García, E., Martínez-Falcó, J., Marco-Lajara, B., & Zakimova, A. (2025). Achieving environmentally responsible production through green managerial awareness, human resource management and employee behavior. Journal of Environmental Management, 373, article number 123739. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123739.
  47. Schultz, T.W. (1960). Capital formation by education. Journal of Political Economy, 68(6), 571-583.
  48. The agricultural sector contributes 17% of the country’s GDP. (2025). Retrieved from https://bizagro.com.ua/vnesok-agrarnogo-sektoru-stanovyt-17-vvp-krayiny/#google_vignette.
  49. Xie, R. (2025). Enhancing green economic transition: Unveiling the impact and mechanisms of integrated human capital on green total factor productivity. SAGE Open, 15(3). doi: 10.1177/21582440251363313.
  50. Yuhnovska, Y., Didenko, A., Ryzhenko, O., & Omelchak, H. (2024). The potential of human capital in the management system of a modern enterprise. Scientific Bulletin of the International Humanitarian University, 58, 49-54. doi: 10.32782/2413-2675/2024-58-6.