Economic and Social Changes: Facts, Trends, Forecast (May 2017)
Agricultural Consulting in the System of Innovative Agriculture Development of the North
Abstract
The formation and development of agricultural consulting in Northern and Arctic territories requires consideration of peculiarities of agriculture functioning. The article reviews the essence and specific features of agricultural consulting services. The author presents her definition of the relevant service, justifies the socio-economic background of the agricultural consulting system, explains the key role of this system in innovation development and transfer in the agricultural sector. The article studies the regional features of formation of information-consulting service in the agricultural sector of the Komi Republic influenced by types of agricultural structures, human and scientific-educational potential, innovative activity of agricultural enterprises and private farms. The author analyzes current activities of consulting services and factors constraining its development. To increase the coverage of the information-consulting service for agricultural producers and rural population, disseminate innovation for medium and small agricultural structures, the author has developed directions of the agricultural consulting system development and suggested the scheme of location and maintenance of inter-municipal agricultural consulting centers, their provision with specialist and financial resources. The article reviews the functions of the home office and inter-municipal consulting services. It justifies priority directions of participation of agricultural consulting services in the development and transfer of innovation to agricultural production. The research results can be used by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Komi Republic for establishing agricultural consulting services at the regional and municipal levels, as well as implementing measures for increasing innovation activity of agricultural enterprises and private farms of Northern regions
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