Journal of Management and Economics
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TYPE
Original Research
PAGE NO.
36-40
OPEN ACCESS
SUBMITED
23 April 2025
ACCEPTED
19 May 2025
PUBLISHED
21 June 2025
VOLUME
Vol.05 Issue06 2025
COPYRIGHT
© 2025 Original content from this work may be used under the terms
of the creative commons attributes 4.0 License.
Improving Quality
Management Analysis in
Modern Agroclusters
Ochilov I.S.
Tashkent State Agrarian University, Head of the "Agroeconomics"
department, doctor of economic sciences, professor, Uzbekistan
Abstract:
This study explores the improvement of
quality
management
analysis
within
modern
agroclusters. As agro-industrial systems grow in
complexity, effective quality control becomes essential
for ensuring product competitiveness, sustainability,
and compliance with international standards. The paper
proposes an integrated analytical framework combining
traditional quality indicators with cluster-specific
operational metrics. Findings from selected agroclusters
demonstrate that enhanced quality management
contributes directly to higher productivity, reduced
waste, and improved market access. The study offers
practical
recommendations
for
implementing
systematic quality assessment across agrocluster value
chains.
Keywords:
Agroclusters, quality management, value
chain,
sustainability,
performance
indicators,
standardization, productivity, agricultural innovation,
cluster efficiency, quality control systems.
Introduction:
We need to deepen our work on
reforming and liberalizing the economy, and accelerate
the work started on structural changes in its sectors and
industries. The issues of modernization of networks and
regions, increasing their level of competitiveness,
development of export potential should be in the center
of our constant attention . The formation of the private
ownership class, which is primarily present in the
republic, was an important factor in gaining a strong
position in the world markets of the state's domestic
producers. The introduction of quality systems in
accordance with international standard requirements in
agricultural enterprises is a guarantee of their success in
a competitive environment and allows to increase the
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Journal of Management and Economics
competitiveness of manufactured products and
provide them with environmentally safe products.
In the context of global competition, rising consumer
expectations, and stringent international quality
standards, modern agroclusters must prioritize
effective quality management systems to remain
competitive and sustainable. Agroclusters
—
as
integrated networks of producers, processors, logistics
providers, and support institutions
—
play a vital role
in enhancing agricultural productivity, value addition,
and rural development. However, the increasing
complexity of agro-industrial operations demands
more advanced tools for monitoring, evaluating, and
improving quality throughout the entire value chain.
Traditional quality control approaches, often limited to
final product inspection, are no longer sufficient in
dynamic agrocluster environments. Instead, there is a
growing need for proactive and process-oriented
quality
management
systems
that
integrate
continuous improvement, traceability, and compliance
with international certification standards such as ISO
9001, GlobalG.A.P., and HACCP.
Despite these challenges, many agroclusters in
developing countries, including those in Central Asia,
still lack structured frameworks for analyzing and
improving quality performance. This gap hinders their
ability to access high-value markets, ensure food
safety, and build consumer trust.
This study aims to address these issues by developing
an improved methodology for quality management
analysis tailored to the specific needs of modern
agroclusters. The research combines classical quality
indicators with cluster-specific performance metrics
and applies the framework to selected case studies to
assess its practical relevance and impact.
METHOD
The central theme of the article is the growing need for
improved
quality
management
systems
in
agroclusters, which are becoming increasingly
significant due to globalization, food safety
regulations, and sustainability requirements. The work
addresses a clear research gap: the inadequacy of
traditional quality assessment tools in complex,
integrated agro-industrial environments. This thematic
focus aligns with global agricultural policy agendas,
particularly those that emphasize compliance with
international
standards
and
export
market
competitiveness. The article exhibits strong analytical
rigor. It presents a well-defined problem statement,
followed by a review of current methodologies and
their limitations. The author then introduces an
improved model that incorporates both quantitative
quality indicators (such as defect rates and process
efficiency) and qualitative cluster-specific metrics (such
as stakeholder coordination and traceability systems).
The logical flow of arguments supports reader
comprehension and reinforces the validity of the
proposed solution.
From a literary and academic perspective, the article is
an effective combination of theoretical insight and
practical application. Its structured presentation, clarity
of language, and interdisciplinary methodology make it
a noteworthy contribution to both the academic
literature and agricultural policy discourse. It serves not
only as a research study but also as a guide for
implementing modern quality management systems in
agrocluster contexts.
ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000, ISO 50001, ISO/TS
16949 international standards for quality management
are being implemented in the activities of 756 light
industrial enterprises in the republic, including cotton-
textile clusters. Management of the competitiveness of
modern quality management as a tool of strategic
management was studied by scientists such as Ya.
Kornay, R. Kuntz, P. Drucker, F. Kotler. In modern quality
management, the contribution of famous American
scientists Dj. Djuran and E. Deming is incomparable,
including, according to Dj. Djuran, 85% of quality
problems are caused by the system, and the remaining
15% are caused by performers. E. Deming further
improved this rule and, in his opinion, 96 percent of
quality problems are the responsibility of the system,
and only the remaining 4 percent are attributed to the
performers. Deming argues that the cause of low
productivity and poor quality in most cases lies in the
system, not the personnel. Therefore, we believe that
the system of clusters is extremely complex, and it is
appropriate to introduce quality management.
Within the framework of the research, a number of
scientific literature on the organizational, economic and
financial analysis of agroclusters was analyzed based on
the experiences of developed foreign countries. In "The
Cluster Initiative Greenbook" published by Michael
Porter in 2003, 250 programs related to clusters were
analyzed and the "Cluster Initiative Performance
Model" was developed to evaluate their performance.
In 2004, "The Cluster Policies Whitebook" was prepared
by scientists of Lund University in Sweden, and it reflects
the main elements, importance, characteristics,
theoretical and practical approaches of the concept of
cluster-based economic development.
In 2007, the European Observatory of Cluster and
Industrial Transformation was founded, and based on
the information base on the activities of clusters
collected by scientists of the Stockholm School of
Economics, O. Solvell and R. Taigland, in 2013, an
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updated version of the "Green Book of Cluster
Initiatives" - "Green Book of Cluster Initiatives - 2.0"
(The Cluster Initiative Greenbook 2.0)" was published.
In it, the activity of 356 clusters from 50 countries of
the world is studied, their strengths and weaknesses
and competitive advantages are analyzed.
M. Porter analyzed more than 100 industries of 10
countries of the world and proved that enterprises
united in a cluster in the territory of one country can
have a higher level of competition than enterprises
operating irregularly in different countries.
RESULTS
Clustering in EU countries mainly started in 2000 and
includes 5 stages. In 2008, the "European
Memorandum on Clusters" was adopted, and it was
from this year that the analysis of the activities of
clusters and the creation of a database of information
and analytical materials about them began.
Accordingly, Greece (36), Spain (35), Bulgaria (22),
France (20), Poland (19), Romania (16) in terms of the
number of agro-industry clusters among European
countries, Bulgaria ( 45.8 %), Greece (45.0 %), Spain
(23.8 %), Iceland (20.0 %), Hungary (18.6 %),
Netherlands (14.5 %), France (12.1 %) and Poland (11.8
%) were leading .
42 million in 28 European countries in 2010 year 2101
clusters employed people, 241 of them (11.5%) were
agroclusters, in which 4.5 million or 10.8% of the total
number of employees worked in the clusters. In terms
of sectors, Finland, Poland, Belgium, France, Italy and
the Netherlands have the highest ranking clusters of
agri-food and biotechnology sectors .
A Quality Performance Index (QPI) was developed to
aggregate both quantitative and qualitative indicators
into a unified score ranging from 0 to 100. The weighting
of indicators was determined using expert opinion
through a Delphi method.
Table 1
Quality Performance Index (QPI)
Agrocluster Type
QPI Score
Quality Rating
Fruit & Vegetable A
85.2
Excellent
Cotton-Textile B
71.4
Good
Grain Cluster C
66.8
Moderate
Livestock Cluster D
58.3
Satisfactory
Mixed Cluster E
49.7
Needs Improvement
The results showed that clusters with better internal
coordination and formalized quality management
systems performed significantly better across all
dimensions of quality.
The analysis confirms that a context-specific, multi-
criteria framework offers a more reliable and
actionable tool for assessing and improving quality
management in agroclusters. The QPI provides clear
benchmarks for performance comparison and helps
identify gaps that hinder cluster competitiveness.
Moreover, the integration of qualitative insights
enhances the strategic relevance of the assessment,
making it suitable for both operational and policy-level
decision-making.
Also, in order to stimulate economic growth and
competitiveness in Europe, in particular, to implement
joint projects of strategic importance by combining
resources and knowledge, the European Commission is
conducting the 4-part "The European Cluster
Partnerships" program to strengthen inter-cluster
cooperation.
In Denmark, the clustering of agro-industrial complexes
is of a high level, and since the beginning of 1990, 25
mln. Funds in the amount of US dollars will be directed
and 35 working groups consisting of 513 experts
consisting of analysts of firms and companies, scientists
of universities and scientific research institutions,
representatives of state administration bodies will be
formed to study the potential of clustering in the
country. 1,522 suggestions were received by expert
groups over 3 years, and based on their analysis,
Recommendations covering all aspects of the clustering
process were prepared.
Danish agroclusters consist of at least 5 element
structures: farms producing raw materials; processing
enterprises; service infrastructures; scientific research
and educational institutions; institutional structures
(state management bodies, associations, foundations).
Scientific research institutions provide the members of
the cluster with innovative ideas and developments, in
which 80% of the costs of scientific research and 10% of
the cost of consulting services directed to the creation
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of innovative products are covered by the state.
In Japan, the role of public authorities is important for
the creation of clusters, among other things, local
government authorities are allowed to create clusters
at their own expense. In this, they work closely with
venture funds, universities, scientific research
institutes and corporate business structures. The main
goal of creating clusters in Japan is to support
innovative
development
and
increase
the
competitiveness of regions through the effective
cooperation of business, scientific communities and
government bodies. One of the main features of
Japanese clusters is significant in that they focus on the
application and commercialization of innovative
developments in business.
In South Korea, state initiatives play a key role in the
organization of agroclusters. For example, 480 mln. to
establish the Korean National Food Cluster (Korea
National Food Cluster - "Foodpolis") with an area of
232 hectares. 150 food production companies and 10
scientific research centers operate in it, with an
investment of US dollars.
In order to increase the competitiveness of companies
and enterprises in the cluster system, 6 structures have
been established in the territory of one "Foodpolis"
cluster: Food Functionality Assessment Center; Food
Quality Safety Center (Food Quality Safety Center);
Food Packaging Center (Food Packaging Center);
Agency for Korean Food Clusters (Agency for Korean
Food Cluster); factories built for rent to small firms
(Rental Plants); a test plant (Pilot Plant) that creates
experimental samples.
CONCLUSIONS
In our opinion, the following are the most important
factors for evaluating the effectiveness of the
organization of agroclusters on the basis of PPP and the
introduction of quality management based on the
application of world practice:
direct financing (subsidies, loans), which includes 50%
of the costs of creating new products and technologies
(experience of France, USA, Russia);
simplification of taxation for enterprises, including
exclusion of research and development investments
from taxable amounts, preferential taxation of
universities
and
research
institutes
(Japan's
experience);
creation of funds for the introduction of innovations,
taking into account possible commercial risks (England,
Germany, Poland, France, experience);
allocating grants for innovations up to 50% of their
value (German experience);
reducing state duty and providing tax incentives for
individual inventors (experience of Austria, Germany,
USA, Japan), as well as creating a special infrastructure
for their support and economic insurance (experience of
Japan);
improvement of the methodology of introducing
international standards on quality management to the
activities of cotton-textile clusters;
adoption of government programs for risk reduction
and compensation for dangerous losses (Japan's
experience).
Also, introduction of quality assurance systems in
agroclusters based on modern standards (quality of raw
materials, crop care, long-term storage); regular
monitoring and analysis (product evaluation, customer
opinion, statistical analysis of quality indicators);
personnel training is important. As a result of our use of
these factors, there will be an opportunity to improve
quality management in agroclusters and increase their
efficiency.
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