Methodological approaches to assessing the development of the agricultural sector of Ukraine in the context of sustainable development: indicators and measurement mechanisms

Abstract

The article examines modern approaches to assessing the development of the agricultural sector of Ukraine from the perspective of sustainable development, covering economic, environmental, and social aspects. The main focus is on creating a comprehensive system of indicators that allows reflecting both the current state of the sector and predicting its development in the future. The purpose of the study is to develop a methodology that ensures the integration of these three components of sustainable development, taking into account the specifics of agricultural activities and national characteristics of Ukraine. The proposed indicators include labor productivity, environmental efficiency of resource use, rural employment, greenhouse gas emissions, and access to basic services. Methods. The article uses multivariate analysis to assess the interaction between indicators, which allows taking into account the complexity and multidimensionality of the agricultural sector. The method of normalization allows bringing various indicators to a comparable form, which is important for developing an integral index. The use of the aggregation method contributes to calculating an overall indicator of sustainable development that takes into account all key aspects: economic (productivity, investment, profitability), environmental (rational use of resources, reduction of emissions), and social (employment, access to basic services). The results of the study confirm that the proposed methodology allows assessing not only the current level of development of the agricultural sector but also its resilience to changes in external conditions, such as climate challenges or economic crises. This approach enables effective comparisons between different countries and regions, making it possible to identify the most vulnerable and promising areas of development. The findings demonstrate the importance of a comprehensive approach for strategic decision-making at the national level aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainable development of the agricultural sector. The conclusions emphasize that integrating quantitative indicators into a single system allows for a holistic vision of the sector and the development of effective support programs and investment strategies to increase the resilience of Ukrainian agriculture in the face of global challenges. The developed methodology also makes it possible to put into practice recommendations for optimizing resource management, reducing the environmental impact of the agricultural sector, and increasing social responsibility, which is an integral part of the concept of sustainable development.