AGRICULTURAL COOPERATION IS AN IMPORTANT LINK OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RURAL ECONOMY OF THE NORTHERN REGION

Agriculture in the Northern region, as well as rural areas, has been in crisis for more than a quarter of a century. At the same time, the state does not have the opportunity to radically change the situation due to the strict market orientation of the economic course, as well as the lack of financial resources. In this regard, when implementing the sustainable development goals, it is important to form local initiatives and find local reserves for development of the rural economy, which is facilitated by agricultural consumer cooperation, which is the subject of this study. The analysis showed that the agricultural cooperation of the Northern region is poorly developed and in the current state, even with the state support measures implemented, is not able to solve the problems of rural development. To solve the problems of agricultural cooperation development, the article uses an approach that defines cooperatives as a radically alternative economic project with clearly defined social and community goals and consequences, as part of economic diversity, which seeks to re-politicize the economy and refute the capital-centric model of the organization. At the same time, cooperatives are closely linked to civil society movements based on alternative agriculture and food networks, as well as rural development. It is proposed to strengthen the social and local orientation in the activities of cooperatives. It seems true that the peculiarities of development of the Northern agriculture and rural areas determine the feasibility of using a cooperative model aimed at involving entrepreneurs in various industries and farms of the population in cooperative activities and forming open cooperatives. The results obtained can be used in development of a regional program for development of agricultural cooperation.

rural economy, agricultural cooperative, small businesses, personal subsidiary farms, Northern region, tools, sustainable development, social and fair economy, open cooperatives, environmental and social programs.

Maltseva I. S. Agricultural cooperation is an important link of sustainable development of the rural economy of the northern region. Business. Education. Law, 2020, no. 4, pp. 198–203. DOI: 10.25683/VOLBI.2020.53.440.