DAGESTAN. MOUNTAIN-VALLEY HORTICULTURE: DEFINING AGRICULTURE, HORTICULTURE AND GARDENING

The article is devoted to the historical and ethnographic description of mountain gardening in Dagestan. A brief overview of the definitions of agriculture, horticulture and gardening is given. The importance of avoiding confusion between these basically close and partly identical terms in anthropological and ethnographic studies is illustrated in the case of mountain-valley horticulture. This approach examines a) the symbiosis of the economic and cultural traditions of the region; b) components of ethno-economics and ethno-ecology; c) technological modernization of the agricultural industry; d) an indicator of the resource potential of sustainable development of mountainous areas, the population of which retains traditional economic specialization; e) economic integration of mountainous territories into the region, the country, and the formation of interregional ties that give stability to the ethnic economy; f) criteria for the appropriate preservation of traditional ethno-culture.  The multiethnic composition of the population of the Russian Federation and the different levels of socio-economic development of its regions, highlight problems not only in the Caucasus but in all regions of the country. Many mistakenly see sustainable development in the recreational potential of the territory and the use of ethnic originality as a "brand" without considering potential, often negative consequences. In this regard, social problems are identified associated with the need to preserve the historical, cultural and natural heritage, traditional life support systems, and economic specialization. Craft centres that preserve the tradition of Russian "brands" are compared to authentic regional products. Since the 1990s mountain-valley gardening in Dagestan is in a state of stagnation due to socio-political, legal (land tenure and land use), and demographic (depopulation of mountainous territories) factors.