Agricultural potential of upper Prilenye in ensuring the food security of the Irkutsk region

¹ V. B. Sochava Institute of Geography, Siberian branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ulan-Batorskaya, Avenue, 664033 Irkutsk, Russia
² Irkutsk State University, Karl Marks Avenue 1, 664003 Irkutsk, Russia

^* Corresponding author: rogovskayan@inbox.ru

Abstract

Traditionally, the main agricultural zone of the Irkutsk region is considered to be the Trans-Siberian zone and the districts of the Ust-Orda Buryat district. Since the production of food products is the most crucial aspect of providing food to the population of the Irkutsk region, the territorial expansion and increase of agricultural potential are relevant. The novelty of the research is the study and the proposal for more active inclusion of the Upper Prilenye districts in the agricultural profile of the Irkutsk region. They form an agrarian area of dairy and meat production, cultivation of vegetables of the closed ground, and potatoes. The purpose of the research is to study the natural resource potential of the Upper Prilenye in solving issues of food security in the region. Methods used in the research are statistical, historical, and cartographic. Research results are that the agricultural potential of the Upper Prilenye is based on significant land resources that are suitable for the development of crop production. The area is located in a zone of risky agriculture with unfavorable agro-climatic conditions. Thus, the current direction in grain production is the production of feed grain to create a local base for feed production in dairy and meat livestock. It is necessary to use the agricultural production potential of the area for more successful development of traditional branches of the agro-industrial complex of the Irkutsk region.