Agrocluster as an instrument of socio-economic policy for the development of the region (based on the Rostov Region data)

The purpose of the article is to identify additional opportunities for using agricultural clusters to stimulate the socio-economic development of agricultural territories and diagnose the constraining problems of modern clustering policy using the example of the Rostov region. The use of the cluster methodology made it possible to rethink the toolkit of the regional policy, considering not individual enterprises as an object of regulation, but integrated structures that can become regional “growth areas”. The article describes some interesting findings. First, the cluster strategy made it possible to ensure sustainable growth rates of individual regions, which became the driver of the development of the leading world powers. Secondly, the Russian experience of cluster development made it possible to identify the competitive advantages and internal regional resources for development, increasing the competitiveness of the cluster structure partners. Increasing the competitiveness of business is of particular importance for the agro-oriented regions of Russia, since the agricultural sector is subject to greater natural risks. Thirdly, the positive impact of agricultural clusters on the socio-economic development of the Rostov region, including that over the Covid-19 pandemic period, is highlighted. Fourth, constraints have been identified that reduce the effectiveness of the cluster policy