ON THE ISSUE OF DEVELOPMENT OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS ENTITIES

Abstract

The article examines the methodological principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR) development in the agricultural sector of Ukraine. The advantages of implementing the CSR system in the practice of Ukrainian agrarian formations are substantiated on the example of IMK agricultural holding. The main incentives that will contribute to the spread of corporate social responsibility are identified, and the main directions of CSR development in agribusiness are proposed. Corporate social responsibility of agrarian business entities can be interpreted as a process of implementation of voluntarily accepted obligations to meet the social needs of employees of the business entity, as well as partners and other members of society in general. IMK is one of the 10 largest agricultural companies in Ukraine. It is an integrated economic entity that carries out its activities in such areas as growing crops (sunflower, soybeans, wheat, corn) and storage of products; milk production. The company pursues an active social policy in the following areas: personnel, labor and health protection, industrial safety, environmental protection, social program "IMK helps". Regarding this agrarian formation, the following can be stated: first, an important component is environmental protection and resource conservation, as corporate and social business must take comprehensive initiatives to reduce the harmful effects of its production and economic activities on the environment; second, politics socially responsible companies should provide social programs for residents of the region of business, which include support for socially vulnerable groups, support for the preservation and development of housing and communal services and cultural and historical sites, etc.; thirdly, the development of the company's staff should be aimed at training and professional development, taking into account the maintenance of a high level of motivation employees, both in terms of pay and social package, the creation of appropriate conditions for recreation and leisure, support of internal communications in the company, as well as the active participation of the personnel of the business entity in management decisions. The main directions of increasing the level of competitiveness of "IMK" on the basis of the development of corporate social responsibility are implementation of the policy of responsible attitude of the company to its employees; support, and development of the position of active citizenship; initiating a dialogue with influence groups as a tool for obtaining information on optimizing social programs and minimizing enterprise risks; introduction of reporting standards in its social responsibility program; creation of separate subdivisions, the introduction of separate positions that will be responsible for CSR management activities; increase of the company's budgets for CSR activities. All this will improve the business reputation and image among the population, consumers and customers, investment attractiveness of the company, and more.