Business diversification in rural areas: international experience

The purpose of the article is to generalize methodological peculiarities and practical patterns of business diversification in rural areas in some foreign countries as an element of forming an effective economic model of rural development. Research methodology. In the research process have been used such scientific methods as generalization, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction. Research results. According to the research results, applied peculiarities of the diversification of rural business in the United States, Israel and EU countries have been discovered, which confirm that such activities are more than just agribusiness; it provides multi-functional development of the rural economy, and also proves its key role in ensuring the viability of rural areas. Elements of scientific novelty. Based on the experience of the researched countries, synergetic nature of the existing models of rural business diversification, and ability of the diversification strategies to ensure self-sufficiency of farms in terms of meeting production needs and reducing dependence on market fluctuations have been proved. Practical significance. The obtained results of the research can serve as the basis for the process of forming the development model of rural business in Ukraine in the context of existing opportunities and threats of rural development, which are of global nature. Figs.: 1. Refs.: 24.