AGRIBUSINESSMEN OF THE TYUMEN OBLAST SOUTH: LIFE-STORIES ANALYSIS

Abstract

Agricultural entrepreneurship, viewed as an essential structural factor for the development of economy and market relations in rural areas, is largely affected by the socio-economic context. The article discloses the realities of Russian agricultural entrepreneurship on the example of various forms of agribusinesses in the remote Russian countryside (companies, farms, peasant farms). Article aims to reveal the characteristic image of a rural businessman of the Tyumen oblast south. Empirical data are obtained as a part of a research project which studies the development of regional rural areas. Authors’ narrative analysis of problematic issues is based on 59 expert in-depth interviews (21 with agribusinessmen, 38 with the ones of related occupations). In the theoretical aspect, the authors rely on classical and modern scientific literature on rural sociology, sociology of entrepreneurship and theoretical and methodological approaches that dominate in these areas of sociology. Qualitative data analysis allowed us to reveal: 1) main characteristics of a rural businessman, their actual qualities and skills necessary for their work; 2) internal and external factors of the business environment, that influence the efficiency of agribusiness. The problems of agriculture and rural areas, considered as barriers to business-activity development, are contextually identified. Scientific novelty of results is determined by the original empirical data, obtained through expert interviews, as it can be used in further research within this field. The application of MAXQDA Plus 2020 tools for analysis and interpretation of qualitative and mixed data is of practical importance.