Agricultural consumer cooperatives in Russia: state and prospects for development

Abstract

In the Russian Federation, small business cooperation in rural areas plays an important social role, and the state provides great support to the development of cooperation. The paper provides an analysis of the state and areas of development of agricultural consumer cooperatives at the federal and regional levels. The analysis has showed that, against the background of a decrease in the number of agricultural consumer cooperatives, their consolidation and an increase in fixed assets are taking place. The main reasons for the slow development of cooperation in the countryside have been established. The Saratov region is one of the regions that has accumulated many years of successful experience in the agricultural consumer cooperatives activities. The experience of the Soyuz export-oriented supply and sales cooperative of the Saratov region is described. Proposals are given for the development of agricultural cooperatives, including that through the introduction of innovations and state-of-the-art digital resources and advanced training of personnel.