Abstract
Agricultural cooperatives (ACs) play a key role in increasing rural incomes, creating jobs, and reducing farmers’ costs. This article aims to scientifically identify the most favorable regions for AC development in Kazakhstan by considering regional characteristics and the share of rural population, and to assess their impact on rural quality of life. To achieve this, several research tasks were carried out: a comparative analysis of the rural population share across Kazakhstan’s regions; within the framework of the maximum and minimum level methods, a dynamic analysis of the development of agricultural cooperatives (ACs) was conducted, and regions with the highest potential for further development were identified. The study focused on the following regions: Zhambyl, Kyzylorda, Mangystau, Atyrau, Akmola, North Kazakhstan, and East Kazakhstan oblasts. Based on the economic indicators of ACs, key parameters that may influence the income levels and quality of life of rural populations in these regions were scientifically substantiated. A multifactor correlation-regression analysis was used to determine the factors influencing rural population decline. The study covers the period from 2017 to 2023. It examines the relationship between population size, indicators of quality of life, and economic indicators related to ACs. Findings show that in regions with a growing number of cooperatives, the connection between AC development and rural quality of life remains weak. However, in regions that are major agricultural producers, this relationship is significantly stronger. Therefore, government bodies should clearly communicate the benefits of ACs to farmers, support the development of marketing, advisory, and technical service cooperatives, ensure access to land resources, and take into account regional specifics and the rural population share. Special attention should be given to the socio-economic impact of ACs on rural communities