Improving Agricultural Land Management As A Tool For Promoting Sustainable Development

Abstract

The introduction of environmentally friendly farming methods in the conditions of the permanent degradation of land, soil and vegetation cover is one of the conditions for the formation of sustainable systems in agriculture. The purpose of this study is to substantiate possible directions for improving the land management system in the context of environmental improvement of agriculture in the Tambov region of Russia. The ecological impact of agricultural production on land resources is estimated by the allowed decrease in soil fertility using balance sheet tools. Calculations show that the cost of reducing soil fertility on an annual basis is 138.2 USD per hectare of agricultural land, and 384.7 million USD or 17.9% of Total agricultural production in the whole region. In our opinion, this is a sufficient justification for the need to reproduce soil fertility and controlling land degradation. The analysis made it possible to identify the reasons for the low environmental sustainability of land use, including the lack of knowledge in the field of rational use of soils, low interest in the favorable ecological state of soils and insufficient responsibility for the results of economic activity. It is advisable to expand the economic methods of implementing environmental policy, through the formation of a system of motivation and responsibility of farmers in the ecologization of land use. An important link in the promotion of biological practices should be agricultural counseling of agribusiness entities, especially small and medium-sized businesses, raising farmers' awareness of methods to improve fertility and reduce soil degradation.