Financial Aspect of the Activity of Small and Medium-Sized Business Enterprises in the Agricultural Sphere and Their Role in the Development of Rural Areas

The article is devoted to current trends in the development of small and medium-sized businesses, whose role is crucial in the agricultural sector. It is established that agricultural production with specific features and in conditions of instability of the economic environment of their functioning and climate change requires the activities improvement of productive enterprises, characterized by flexibility, mobility, high maneuverability and the ability to respond quickly to changing economic conditions and changing business needs over time. In addition, the decline of rural areas is a dangerous trend in the further development of the agricultural sector of the economy as a whole, so the effective operation of agricultural enterprises is associated with solving these problems. The activity of agricultural enterprises in the context of large, medium, small and micro enterprises is assessed, the sources of their financing are analyzed, the restraining factors of their potential growth are singled out. It is established that small and medium business is an integral part of the development of the agricultural economy, which is able to provide domestic consumers with food, promotes competition, solves important economic and social problems of rural revival and rural development, so it needs more attention to support prospects by expanding financial opportunities and intensification of entrepreneurial activity. The position of the agricultural sector of the economy in the future depends on the level of long-term investment, its lending and state financial support for agricultural producers. The activities of small and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural sector need new approaches to promote their development by increasing the role and importance for agriculture and the economy as a whole. State support should be focused on promoting agricultural markets development, introducing new technologies, improving the investment attractiveness of industries, accomplishing the infrastructure of the agricultural market, financial and credit support, forming and implementation of rural development strategies in Ukraine.