PARTY SECRETARY REPORTS ON LATVIAN SSR AGRICULTURE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700170402-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 2, 2011
• Sequence Number: 402
• Publication Date: April 23, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/02 :CIA-RDP80-00809A000700170402-5
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/02 :CIA-RDP80-00809A000700170402-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/02 :CIA-RDP80-00809A000700170402-5
PARTY SECRETARY REPORTS ON LATVIAN SSR AGRICULTURE
LThe following is Sovetsi;aya=tviya_s recapitulation of a
report by Ya. E. Kalnberzin, Secretary of the Central Commit-
tee of the Communist Party, Latvian SSR, to the Eighth Plenum
of the committee in session 1-3 October 1953 Pursuant to the
decree of the September 1953 Plenum of the Central Committee
of the CPSU On Measures for the Further Development of Agri-
culture in the USSR.J
The mistakes and shortcomings in supervising; agriculture, recited in the
decree of the September Plenum of the Central Connit'..ae of the CPSU apply in
ft.ll mcacure to the Latvian SSR party orGaul::ation.
Animal husbandry is the leading agricultural occupation in the republic;
it accounts for. 60.7 percent of the entire income earned by kolkhozes of the
republic. But aniiw.i husbandry is in n ~t~(;lected state ir..~r:y rayons; in the
republic ns n whole the prewar level ha nuecn attained either in w.~ uumucr
of livestock or in animal productivity. The main reason is that kovkhozes and
covkhozes have failed to fulfill their assi[;ned plans. Covs represent only
42.E percent of the 7;otsl number of cattle in kovkhozes and 36.3 percent, in
covkhozes.
In many }ollctnzes, znimnl husbandry has not yet become r. highly productive
or remunerative part of agriculture; the average milk yield ac of 1 September
1953 was only l,lli~ liters per cow, instead of the 2,200 liters planned. Enor-
mous losses in animal husbandry are due to barren cows. A 50-percent decrease
in barrenness would provide nn additional 39,000 metric tons of milk or 1,600
metric tons of butter by 195i+?
!!bile the development of anirral husbandry depends on the creation of a
stable fodder base, the following situations prevail in kolkhozes and covk-
hozes of the republic: meadow and pasture improvement plans are not fulfilled;
MTS machines are not used to cut bushes or level hillocks in meadoxs and pas-
tures; growing of perennial grasses and rieadox and pasture grasses for seed
is held in low esteem; growing of naize, sunflower::, Jerusalem artichokes, fod-
der potatoes, beets, pumpkins, squashes, and carrots is pursued without enthu-
siasm. All of these situations must L?c corrected. In 195%~, 15-20 hectares of
maize, sunflowers, and Jerusalem artichokes must be planted for ensilage pur-
poses in every kolkhoz. It is necessary to assure that every kolkhoz and sovkhoz
have at least 5-6 metric tons o?' c :;ila~ce per .: r, :: t?Ki to construct silos of suf-
ficient capacity to hold. the plunucu quuaclLic,. rae areas devoted to pots-
toes for fodder purposes must be e:;panded considerably and the check-row method
must be mastered.
The ly5j plan for constructin.; anir?al :;heifers was not fuli'i11ed. It is
necessary to take measures to complete a].1 unifiniched coustLVetion. It is
also highly important to utilize new t;;pes of eo;t shed; anal pigsties in which
a large part of the work is rechanized.
Rog raising is a uotential source of I;rcat incos.e iur 1;?),l;hozes, but it
is not sufficiently developed; nor urr poultr;r ;ntsb.nct~?;: and. sheep breeding
developed as they should be in 1;olY.hoze.s of the rr toit:] G::.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/02 :CIA-RDP80-00809A000700170402-5
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/02 :CIA-RDP80-00809A000700170402-5
STAT
all divisions of animal husbandry c eaninang or personnel and to develop
tore is of vital importance to the USSR and~is thebmos~urre th of agricul-
Pronting the state and party organizations of the Latvian SSR, problem con-
Ia the near future, potato and vegetable production must fully satisfy the
demands of the city population, the processing industry, and animal husbeadry,
In 1953, 38 rayons of the republic failed to fulfill the potato-planting plan.
In 1954, the vegetable yield in kolkhozes and sovkhozes must rise to not less
than 200 quintals per hectare and the potato yield to 170 quintals per hectare.
Particular attention must be paid to production of winter wheat, to higher
sugar-beet yields, and to more extensive sowing of flax.
There are now 107 MfS and specialized stations in the republic. In 1953,
basic agricultural operations were 64 percent mechanized.
Gradual liquidation of the separate form-home system and creation oT col-
lective kolkhoz villages assures more favorable conditions for kolkhoz produc-
tion development, permits better cultural and living conditions for the kolkhoz
worker, and creates the possibility of building good schools, hospitals, mater-
nity homes, and kindergartens, Aid must be given to those wishing to leave
their separate farm homes. It is necessary to study past experience and prob-
lems connected with such migration, such arelection of sites for kolkhoz cen-
ters, planning of villages, and production of building materials.
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/02 :CIA-RDP80-00809A000700170402-5