The relevance of contractual relations in the agro-industrial complex and the feasibility of small business participation in them

This article examines the status of small farms and their contribution to agricultural production in the country. It emphasizes that the development of small businesses in the agro-industrial complex is a prerequisite for effectively addressing the socioeconomic challenges of rural areas and ensuring food security. However, in recent years, the number of peasant (farmer) farms and private household plots has been declining rapidly, and support institutions such as contracting and consumer cooperatives in the agro-industrial complex are in their infancy. The article emphasizes the need to develop contractual relationships between small farms and large agricultural, processing, and trading enterprises. The article demonstrates the production, economic, social, and environmental-epidemiological effectiveness of contracting for agricultural products, and identifies the factors hindering its development. It concludes that the role of the state in developing contractual relationships in the agro-industrial complex needs to be strengthened.