The purpose of the article is to test the scientific hypothesis that vertically integrated agrarian business structures operate in Zhytomyr region and identify features of their participants' activities. Research methods. Achieving this goal was carried out in several stages, which include the following: 1) study of features of agricultural production in Zhytomyr region as an element of the domestic agricultural system (economic and statistical methods, comparison method); 2) theoretical justification and empirical confirmation of functioning of vertically integrated structures in the region (abstract logical method); 3) determination of features of agricultural enterprises functioning as a part of vertically integrated holding-type structures (economic-statistical method, comparison method). Results results. Features of agriculture in Zhytomyr region were identified and those that are evidence for functioning of agricultural holding structures in the region were highlighted. It has been proved that the majority of indicators of production efficiency in agricultural enterprises conducting their business as a part of holding-type agrarian associations are higher than those of other producers. Priority areas of specialisation of participants in vertically integrated structures were identified, and comparative analysis of efficiency of their production with efficiency of other agricultural producers was carried out. Elements of scientific novelty. The authors determined types of agricultural activity and evaluated production efficiency of agricultural enterprises in Zhytomyr region, which belong to vertically integrated structures of the holding type. Practical significance. The results obtained are basis for forecasting directions and rates for development of agro-holding associations in the territory of Ukraine and modelling their effects on activities of other agricultural enterprises, rural development and national economy. Tabl.: 7. Refs.: 14