Domanytskyi — an organizer of the scientific-educational and agrarian-cooperative movement in Ukraine

Abstract

Goal. To reveal the main milestones of the life and creative path of Professor V.M. Domanytskyi, to summarize his contribution to the development of the scientific and educational provision of Ukrainian agriculture during the first hopes for statehood (1917–1920), the establishment of Soviet power (1921–1922), and especially in emigration (Germany, Czechoslovakia, and the USA). Methods. General scientific — analysis, synthesis, classification; historical — problem-chronological, comparative-historical, retrospective. Special attention was paid to the biographical method as a means of reconstructing the life biography of the scientist. Results. Analysis of available publications by V.M. Domanytskyi testifies to him as an effective participant in the process of formation of agricultural research in Ukraine as a field of knowledge and organization. The unexplored years of the scientist’s activity (1917–1922) are highlighted, in particular his creative achievements as a member of the Ukrainian Scientific Society (1919–1920), the Agricultural Scientific Committee of Ukraine under the People’s Commissariat on Artificial Fertilization (1920–1922) and the cooperative movement under the Central Ukrainian Agricultural Cooperative Union “Central” (1918–1920). Thanks to the works of that period, the significant role is proved of V.M. Domanytskyi in the development of two directions of research — for the needs of practical and scientific support of agriculture. It is argued that this fully applies to issues of rural cooperation. The creative heritage of V.M. Domanytskyi is systematized with the selection of the most important blocks that identify him as an extraordinary researcher and organizer of the cooperative movement, a talented educator, and a public figure: selection and seed production, a history of agricultural science and education, sociology, agriculture, history of culture, history of Ukraine.