At the present stage in the domestic scientific environment, the problems of ensuring sustainable development of rural areas are insufficiently studied and require further study. The goal of sustainable development of rural areas is a balanced development of the economic, social and environmental spheres, aimed at ensuring a favorable life of the population. The article considers the economic aspects of the functioning of rural territories of Pavlodar region and provides a comprehensive assessment to solve the problems of socio-economic development of these territories in the current and long-term perspective. As a base of analysis and assessment used statistical data of the official website of the Committee on statistics of MNE of RK, and also empirical observation and informational resources of local Executive bodies region. Based on the results, which identified systemic problems of the rural economy that have a negative impact on the level and quality of life of the rural population. These include, first and foremost, the dominant raw material orientation of the rural economy, low labour productivity, due to the significant moral and physical deterioration of the production-technical base, including the excess of the lifespan of the majority of equipment, as well as the rate of fleet renewal machines relevant regulatory requirements, using a separate are subject obsolete resource-intensive technologies. It is shown positive dynamics of key indicators of agriculture, which developed in the first place, due to government regulation of agriculture and the creation of an enabling environment through the extension of the relevant package of measures of state support aimed at the development of this sector of the national economy. Recommendations aimed at activating the processes of rural economy diversification have been developed. Analysis of the state of domestic beekeeping shows that this market niche in the national economy is not sufficiently developed and this industry has a significant unrealized potential. Significant benefits of the development of the beekeeping industry are shown, which will have a positive impact on strengthening the export positions of non-resource orientation, increasing employment of the rural population, crop yields, solving the problems of degraded agricultural land, etc. The economic feasibility and effectiveness of investment projects in the field of beekeeping development, which simultaneously provide a significant social effect, are justified. For the transition of rural territories to a qualitatively new level of development, based on the conclusions made about the priorities of rural development, the authors justify strategic prospects for further development using the internal mechanism of their functioning, reserves of economic growth and taking into account the specifics and features of administrative-territorial units.