The state and role of local self-government in rural areas in ensuring the effectiveness of agricultural policy

The article shows the state and trends of local self-government development in rural areas, assesses the latest changes in this area, and reveals their negative nature. It is concluded that the elimination of the settlement level will alienate local authorities from the population, negatively affect its activity and quality of life. It is noted that the preservation of rural settlements and the formation of organizationally and financially independent local government bodies in them will help reduce social tensions in rural areas, and will have a positive impact on the development of agriculture and alternative activities. The importance of local government participation in creating favorable conditions for small businesses, consumer cooperation, and contractual relations between small agricultural producers and large agro-industrial complex formations is emphasized. Directions for improving local self-government in rural areas are given