THE ROLE OF SOCIAL AGRICULTURE IN ECONOMICS

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Social agriculture plays a significant role in economics by integrating social and environmental considerations into agricultural practices. It focuses on creating sustainable and inclusive food systems that benefit local communities and the environment. Social agriculture is still a very little-explored and well-known concept in the Uzbek environment. Due to the novelty of the topic, and the interest in exploring the form of social agriculture, it is necessary to characterize what social agriculture is, both on the basis of available definitions and theoretical foundations and on the basis of how this concept is understood in practice by those involved in social agriculture. For this reason, the present article reveals the concept of social agriculture is understood by individual actors. Within this present article, theoretical knowledge will be presented to help characterize what social agriculture is. In addition to a brief description of what social agriculture is, this paper will also deal with the theoretical starting points from which social agriculture is based. Social agriculture refers to the combination of agricultural production with social, educational, rehabilitative, or therapeutic objectives. It involves integrating socially excluded or disadvantaged populations—such as people with disabilities, youth at risk, elderly citizens, migrants, or the long-term unemployed—into farming activities. By promoting social inclusion in rural areas, social agriculture can help reduce poverty and improve local livelihoods. It leads to the diversification of rural economies by creating new job opportunities, promoting entrepreneurship, and fostering investments in related sectors like agrotourism and food processing. In this article, we scrutinize the concepts of horticultural therapy, green care, garden therapy, occupational therapy, and multifunctional agriculture are interconnected issues that, when combined, can greatly impact economics. These approaches employ nature-based activities and environments to provide therapeutic, educational, and rehabilitative benefits. By integrating agriculture with social and therapeutic services, they contribute positively to various aspects of economics, including health, employment, rural development, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion.