Territorial specifics of agricultural development: Comparative analysis of neighboring municipalities of the Vologda and Leningrad regions

The aim of the research is to identify trends, features and key factors concerning agricultural development of neighboring municipalities of the Vologda Region (Vytegorsky Municipal District, Babaevsky and Chagodoshchensky municipal okrugs) and the Leningrad Region (Boksitogorsky, Podporozhsky, Tikhvinsky districts). Our paper is particularly relevant in the context of studying the territorial differentiation of agricultural production in the region (the municipalities under consideration are peripheral territories of the corresponding constituent entities of the Russian Federation). To achieve the set goal, we used economic, statistical and comparative analysis, methods of analysis, synthesis, generalization, and monographic method. We determined that currently among the six analyzed municipalities only in two (Chagodoshchensky Okrug and Tikhvinsky District) agriculture plays a significant role in the economy of the territory. At the same time, both municipalities have decreased crop areas (by 8% in Chagodoshchensky Okrug and 26% in Tikhvinsky District over 2010–2023), the number of cows (by 23 and 50% respectively over 2000–2023) and pigs (by 95 and 82% over 2000–2023), and significantly reduced meat production (by 60 and 70% over 2000–2023); however, Chagodoshchensky Okrug experienced a 34% increase in milk production over 2000–2023. We proposed a number of special indicators for generalized assessment of inter-territorial (inter-regional, inter-municipal) comparisons of the efficiency of functioning of the sphere of agriculture in municipalities. Basically, the analyzed municipalities lag behind the regional average in terms of efficiency indicators; Chagodoshchensky Okrug is ahead of Tikhvinsky District in terms of milk production per 1 square kilometer of the municipality's territory (in 2023 4.75 tons vs. 1.91 tons), in terms of agricultural production per 1 hectare of territory (in 2023 2.51 thousand rubles vs 1.73 thousand rubles); profitability of sales in the agricultural sector of these municipalities is mostly negative. The research results can be used in the practical activities of public authorities of the RF constituent entities and municipalities in the justification of priorities and tools for managing the development of agriculture in the peripheral territories of the region