GARDENING AND HORTICULTURE IN THE REPUBLIC OF BASHKORTOSTAN: CURRENT STATE, PROBLEMS, PROSPECTS OF MUNICIPAL AND INTER-MUNICIPAL CLUSTERING OF THE INDUSTRY

Abstract

Gardening and horticulture is an integral part of life for the majority of the country's population. The importance of gardens and orchards for Russians has increased even more in the context of the crisis in the country, Western sanctions and rising food prices, reduced tourist flows due to the coronavirus pandemic and the introduction of certain restrictions on the movement of citizens within the country and abroad, falling incomes and overall living standard of the population. In the Republic of Bashkortostan, gardening traditions are especially strong, there are more than 500 thousand families of gardeners, about 40% of the total population of the region (1.5 million people) are somehow related to the gardening industry. In addition, there are specialized research and production enterprises for breeding, seed production and development of zoned varieties of plants, trees and shrubs. As a result of the study, the feasibility of developing both a separate regional target "Comprehensive program of the Republic of Bashkortostan for the development of gardening and horticulture for 2024-2030" and adjustments, additions to existing federal, regional and municipal programs for territorial development, support for the agro-industrial complex, small and medium-sized businesses, agricultural production and consumer cooperation, peasant (farm) and personal subsidiary plots of the population with specific proposals to stimulate the production and marketing of horticulture and gardening products. The authors have developed proposals on the organization of municipal and inter-municipal horticultural clusters on the principles of cooperation, which in the future will be combined into a regional horticultural cluster "Gardens of the Republic of Bashkortostan" with a single food brand "Gifts of Gardens of Bashkortostan".