Theoretical and methodological foundations for assessing the resource potential of the agricultural sector: a conceptual approach and composite assessment methodology

Abstract

This article presents an in-depth analysis of the theoretical and methodological issues surrounding the assessment of the agricultural sector's resource potential. The study aims to clarify the economic essence of the "resource potential" category, substantiate its structural composition, and develop a methodology for its integral assessment based on a system of specific indicators. The methodological framework relies on a systems approach, economic analysis and synthesis, comparative analysis, and methods of scientific generalization. The research substantiates the need to assess the agricultural sector's resource potential not by individual resource types, but through the interrelationship of five key components: land, water, labor, material-technical, and financial resources. A system comprising 20 specific indicators has been developed, and a methodological approach for constructing an integral resource potential index is proposed, utilizing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine weighting coefficients. A hypothetical example of the integral index calculation is provided. The study concludes that assessing resource potential while accounting for the synergy and mutual influence of resources is a crucial prerequisite for regional economic development.