Cooperation of household subsidiary plots: new opportunities for marketing, storage and primary processing of agricultural products

The consolidation of small farms, especially household subsidiary plots (HSPs), into agricultural cooperatives enables the joint use of land, agricultural machinery, and technological equipment, thereby contributing to the development of infrastructure for storage, processing, and marketing of agricultural products. The goal is to analyze the current state and development trends of household subsidiary plots, assess the potential for cooperative integration of individual farms, and explore the advantages of prospective cooperative models for providing services that ensure proper preservation technologies, primary processing, and product sales. Methods – analytical method for examining existing types of agricultural cooperation in the country; monographic method to identify reserves for effectively utilizing the potential of household farms in delivering storage, processing, and marketing services; constructive-calculative method to justify promising cooperative models for HSPs. Results – a sharp decline in their share in total gross agricultural output has been identified, along with key limiting factors in the cooperation process. The benefits of joint activity among HSPs are highlighted, promoting both economic and social gains in the form of increased family income. Conclusions – the authors emphasize the need for measures aimed at helping agricultural cooperatives attract internal and external financing sources, reduce dependence on government support, and improve long-term sustainable growth indicators. Encouraging greater involvement of the private sector in financing cooperatives is also essential. The authors recommend launching pilot HSP cooperative projects to create an effective mechanism for supply chain development from raw material production to final product delivery via the “production–storage–processing–marketing” model. To increase effectiveness, favorable conditions must be created for cooperative formation, including access to credit and partnerships with government institutions.