On the history of forest-agrarian relations and modern socio-economic problems in the rural Novgorod region

Abstract

The article provides historical information about the life and work of the peasant population from the middle of the 19th century reflecting significant demographic changes in the number of families of rural residents, as well as the structure of their income from various types of activities. The total income of peasant farms was not only agricultural, but also largely from trade and craft occupations, primarily from forestry. Diversification ensured year-round employment of the rural population and its sustainability. An analysis of legislative changes in recent decades has shown that a negative situation has arisen of alienation of the agricultural sector of the economy and rural residents from forest resources. They mainly began to be used only in the interests of large specialized enterprises for the harvesting and processing of wood under the auspices of a monopoly, self-controlling federal forestry agency. It is proposed to introduce a number of legislative amendments to the socio-economic life of rural residents, to restore the complexity of agriculture and forestry in the development of the provisions of the new Forest Code of the Russian Federation. It is advisable to use not only international but also historical domestic experience of self-sufficiency, self-financing, profitability of complex enterprises in agriculture and forestry that existed in the 60-70s of the 20th century, both in the Novgorod region and in other forest regions of the country.