Production potential of agriculture in the Vologda oblast to ensure food security in the regions of the European north and its Arctic zone

The study of the problems of using production potential of agriculture, the development of measures to improve its efficiency in order to develop the industry based on a balanced and rational use of production factors, food security, promotion of import substitution is relevant since the solution of this issue is now of economic importance. The purpose of the study is to analyze the production potential of constituent entities of the European North of Russia and identify the problems of its implementation. The article summarizes the theoretical aspects of studying the problem and presents the author’s definition of the concept of “production potential of agriculture”. The analysis of production potential of agriculture in constituent entities of the European North reveals its main characteristic features: gradually reducing agricultural land areas due to soil degradation and misuse of land resources, inefficient use of existing labor potential, low logistics, shortage of own working capital. The article notes that the Vologda Oblast has a very significant production potential of agriculture among constituent entities of the European North due to a number of advantages (favorable geographical position, large areas of agricultural land, and the largest volume of agricultural production, etc.). It is emphasized that due to lack of an effective management system and state support, it is impossible to ensure the growth and rational use of available resources and sustainability of economic development of the Vologda Oblast. In conclusion, a set of measures is proposed to successfully implement the potential of agriculture in the Vologda Oblast. These include free use of unused land resources, training and advanced training of specialists at enterprises, timely information for agricultural producers about latest technical achievements, strengthening the material and technical resources, increasing budget finance in agriculture, use of debt restructuring mechanisms of agricultural organizations, building relations between agricultural sectors. The implementation of the proposed measures will ensure sustainable development of agriculture in the Vologda Oblast as a whole.