GENESIS OF SCIENTIFIC VIEWS ON THE CATEGORY OF "ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT" IN THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

The article provides a comprehensive theoretical and methodological study of the genesis of scientific views on the economic development of the agricultural sector and analyzes the transformation of this category under the influence of modern challenges. The author systematizes the evolution of economic thought: from the Physiocratic view of land as the sole source of wealth and Ricardian pessimism about diminishing returns to soil to modern concepts of "Agriculture 4.0," inclusivity, and sustainable development. It is substantiated that, in the context of digital transformation and global climate change, the scientific paradigm is shifting from quantitative growth to qualitative development, with structural restructuring, social justice, and ecological balance as priorities. Special attention is paid to the resilience of Ukraine's agricultural sector under conditions of full-scale military aggression. Based on the processing of statistical data and reports from international institutions (KSE Agrocenter, World Bank), the study estimates direct industry losses at $10.3 billion and indirect economic losses exceeding $69 billion. It is argued that the war has become a catalyst for the forced adaptation of agribusiness, manifested in changes in the structure of sown areas in favor of oilseed crops and the intensification of the search for alternative logistical routes. The work actualizes the scientific heritage of O. Chayanov and M. Kondratiev, which enabled the explanation of the phenomenal resilience of small-scale farms through mechanisms of flexibility and labor self-exploitation. Strategic vectors for the post-war recovery of Ukraine based on the "Build Back Better" principle are identified, which involve a radical modernization of the agro-industrial complex: moving away from a raw material model in favor of deep processing, developing bioenergy potential (specifically biomethane production of up to 10.7 billion cubic meters per year), and implementing precision farming technologies. It is concluded that the effective development of the agricultural sector in modern conditions is a complex symbiosis of technological innovations and institutional reforms aimed at ensuring national security and integration into global value chains. Keywords: economic development, agricultural sector, evolution of economic thought, Agriculture 4.0, war damages, biomethane, inclusive development, structural transformation