Sustainable Agricultural Development in the Coal Mining Region: Specific Characteristics and Conditions (a Case Study in the Kemerovo Region)

Abstract

Agricultural development is an essential condition for the balanced socio-economic development of any region. The level of development in the agricultural sector impacts food security of the population in the given region, while the quality of agricultural output and the price level affects the standard and the quality of living of the population. The link between the level of agricultural development and socio-economic development of rural areas is important. On the one hand, well-developed agriculture preserves rural areas, contributes to job creation in rural areas and helps develop social rural infrastructure. On the other hand, human capacity of agriculture depends on the socio-economic development of rural areas. There are significant variations in agriculture among different regions. Industrial regions often have unfavourable conditions and factors for agricultural development, which is especially evident in mining areas with a specific demographic situation, unfavourable environmental conditions, low interest of business in the development of agriculture. This article uses a case study of the Kemerovo region–Kuzbass to analyze the peculiarities of agricultural development in the coal mining area. The article gives the basic indicators characterizing agricultural development, assesses the adverse limiting factors for agricultural development, assesses the implementation of agricultural functions in the industrial region and highlights the main prospects for agricultural development in the Kemerovo region–Kuzbass.