Theoretical and practical approaches to the strategic development of the agro-industrial complex of the North Caucasus Federal District based on digitalization
Authors:   Institute of Socio-economic Studies of the DFRC of the RAS, Dokholyan Sergei V. , Balyants Karina M. ,   Institute of Socioeconomic Studies of the DFRC of the RAS
Published: April 2022

The subject/topic. The article outlines a number of scientific approaches of leading modern scientists, specialists and managers of operating enterprises of the Russian agro-industrial complex to the strategic planning of innovations in the agro-industrial complex as a whole, and the emphasis is on the digitalization of the agricultural sphere. It reflects the current trends in the state of the regional agro-industrial complex of the North Caucasus Federal District, which, due to the slowdown in the growth of economic indicators, currently does not allow more actively solving the existing systemic problems. Goals. The aim of the work was to substantiate the need for strategic planning of the development of the regional agro-industrial complex based on the analysis of theoretical approaches, to identify practical factors that hinder or slow the development of digitalization in the agricultural sphere of the region, to develop proposals on the priority of state regulation that will contribute to the speedy transition of the agro-industrial complex to modern intensive digital technologies of production, organization and management. Methodology. The methodological basis of the study was the data of the Federal State Statistics Service of Russia, analytical data of scientific publications, as well as scientific research of scientists and leading specialists working in the digital sphere and in agricultural production. The methods of logical and statistical analysis, dynamic series, empirical approaches were used, on the basis of which conclusions were drawn and the directions of their exit from the current situation in the agro-industrial complex of the region were determined. Results. The study showed that in order to activate the industry and introduce digital technologies, it is necessary to have prerequisites, expressed in state coordination of actions of ministries and departments on the formation and improvement of rural infrastructure, training of senior and middle-level personnel, creating jobs in rural areas, as well as a favorable economic environment for efficient production activities of farms, the development of standards for consistent automation and achievement by agricultural enterprises of the level of accurate digital production and organization of activities. The scope of the results. The results obtained can be used by regional state authorities to improve the ongoing transformations in the field of digitalization of the agro-industrial complex. Conclusions/significance. Informatization and digitalization of agriculture and other areas of the agro-industrial complex should be considered not as an independent direction of its development, but as a large set of measures based on state financial, regulatory and coordination support. In order to ensure the breakthrough development of the regional agro-industrial complex, it is necessary that the priority of the agricultural sphere for state policy should be the strategic direction, and, based on the principles of consistency and regularity, mechanisms for the introduction of domestic scientific developments in the field of IT and technological processes and equipment with the solution of the identified problems should be implemented. Application. The results obtained can be used by regional state authorities to improve the ongoing transformations in the field of digitalization of the agro-industrial complex.