Integrated Development of Rural Territories - a Task of National Importance
The Russian Federation has a huge development potential, but it is used very inefficiently. First of all, we are talking about its rural territories' potential which is not used because of the large number of acute social and economic problems characteristic of the Russian countryside. The list of the most acute problems includes the decline of agricultural production, the reduction of its resource base, the villagers' low level and quality of life, the lack of work and, as a result, the reduction of the rural population and villages. The consequence of these negative processes is a decrease in the stability of the resettlement system and national security. All this shows that the implemented policy in relation to rural areas has not led to qualitative changes in the situation in rural areas.The increase of problems in the development of rural areas actualizes the issues of territorial development state regulation which required the adoption of a state program aimed at the integrated development of rural territories. Its principal difference lies in the fact that its ﬁnancing is provided mainly from the Federal budget and extra-budgetary sources. During the discussion of the draft program, shortcomings and possible risks of its implementation were identiﬁed, which requires further elaboration of the implementation mechanism, measures to reduce risks, organization of monitoring and improvement of legislation. The success of the program measures implementation and the solution of acute rural development problems will depend to a decisive extent on the joint efforts of local governments and the Federation subjects' public authorities with the leading role of the latter.