Zemstvo Institutions to Local Handicrafts Development in the Russian Empire in Early XX Century (on materials of Ufa and Kursk provinces)
Created in 1864, local governments zemstvos, had to create, develop, control many areas of local life: education, health, beautifi cation, veterinary medicine etc. One of these areas was the support of local handicrafts, which were rather diverse (from the manufacture of agricultural tools to wooden dish cutting), and were widespread in all the provinces of the Empire. However, the importance of maintaining the handicrafts in the zemstvos was not immediately recognized. Initially, the activity of zemstvo institutions was focused on establishment of medical and educational systems, and only having suffered the problems of crop failures and, as a result, hunger among the peasant population, the zemstvo institutions realized the need to help the crafts, which were a great support in the peasant economy. The targeted assistance to the handicrafts industry began in the 1890-s, but it was of only one-time assistance. The system of measures in most provinces was adopted only at the beginning of the twentieth century. Small handicraft producers were given loans, thzemstvo selfgovern ment bodies, handicraft industry, support, exhibitions, sale warehouses.ey were granted help in the sale of products they brought around and introduced new technologies, trained their staff. Consequently, all this led to an increase in the commodity turnover and higher profi tability of artisanal activitie.