Problems of Rural Development: Republics of Buryatia and Tyva

Abstract

Rural areas are an important basis for the development of Russian economy. However, the problems faced by rural settlements significantly complicate the rural life in modern realities. The research objective was to analyze the current situation in the rural settlements of two national republics of Siberia, namely Buryatia and Tyva, taking into account their geographical, economic, social, economic, and demographic features. The paper covers the most pressing causes of rural degradation, e.g. unemployment, bad conditions for small and medium businesses, no industrial development, etc. In these conditions, rural population have to engage in unskilled agricultural labor, farming, gathering wild plants, berries, and mushrooms, etc. Villagers often get involved in illegal logging, sale of home-brew, uncertified retail trade, etc. Another important factor that hinders rural development is urban migration, which is associated mostly with educated rural population. Villagers suffer from low standard of living, household problems, unemployment, poor social and industrial infrastructure, etc. In addition, the authors also touched upon the problem of preserving traditional culture and language. The abovementioned problems of rural development have negative consequences, decrease agricultural production, and destroy the traditions of rural life.