AGRICULTURE IN BULGARIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006200790007-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 8
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 18, 2008
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: March 17, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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Organization
The Bulgarian land reform sill (Trudova Pozemlena Sobstvenost) of 1946 speci-
fied three types of agriculture for the future:
MFOOQMAT O I R 1OG3
.- CENTRAL -INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
a. Private agriculture,, comprising private owners cultivating their own small
plots of land;
be Cooperative agriculture., comprising cooperative farms (TKZS Trudovo
Kooperativno Zemedelsko Stopanstvo); and
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by law.
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT Agriculture in Bulgaria
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
DATE ACQUIRED
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 17 March 1955
NO. OF PAGES 8
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
This is UNEVALUATED Information
20
MN REPOIR
co State agriculture, comprising state farms (DZS - D.rzhavno Zemedelsko
Stopanstvo).
The agricultural machine stations (MTS - Mashino Traktorni Stantsii) were set
up at the same time to provide mechanized help for the state., cooperative., and
private farms. The controlling authority for agriculture is the Ministry of
Agriculture.,or its Department for Land Administration and Crop Rotation (Otdel
Za Zemeustroystvo i Seitbooboroti).
State ' F :a iab
State farms are made up of land which had either been state-owed before World
War II.,'confiscated from owners of large estates, or the land of peasants who
owned more land than permitted by the land reform bill. The farms are state
property and the managers and workers have the same status as those of other
state-owned enterprises. In exceptional cases a state farm is authorized to
buy up some privately owned land in order to enlarge a certain branch of'pro.
duction of special importance, but such cases are infrequent. The declared
aim of these farms is to provide necessary quantities of foodstuffs without
the government being dependent on cooperative and private farming.
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AEC O AV? }
MCOOQM I OBI QC POOQT MFOR"AACTMN REPO
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3.
Workers on state farms are organized in brigades, each brigade being engaged
in specialized work. The workers live either in the farm area or its vicinity.
In exceptional cases, they are granted loans or allocations of building mater-
ials to build their own houses. Their financial status is identical with that
of cooperative farm members since they also receive their wages according to
the crops. Agricultural experts of the Ministry of Agriculture carry out their
experiments on state farms.. Individual farmers have remarked that "there are
more investigators and judges on state farms than laborers", which indicates
the chaotic state of affairs which exists.
In July 1954 the number of state farms in Bulgaria was 180. A minimum of three
kilograms of wool from every sheep and 65 liters of milk per year are among the
official quotas of deliveries from a state farm. The majority of the agricultural
experts and workers being sent to the USSR for further training and specialization
are state farm employees.
Cooperative Farms
5. The cooperative farms (TKZ$), established after the implementation of the land
reform, are technically independent. In order to impress upon the peasants that
the TKZS was autonomous, the Party Central Committee decided in 1951 to detach the
TKZS Directorate (Direktsia Na TKZS) from the Ministry of Agriculture and to set
up an independent agency to control the cooperative farms. While the Organizational
and Cooperative Administration (Organizatsionno Kooperativno Upravlenie) is the
present governing body for the TKZS, the Ministry of Agriculture, remains the ulti-
mate authority in important matters connected with general policy. The TKZS are
also dependent on the machine stations, which are controlled by the. government.
6. TKZS members are required to turn over their property (land, machines, livestock)
to the cooperative. Each member is alloted from two to five decares of land for
his own private use, a cow or two goats, one or two pigs, three to five lambs, a
donkey, up to 10 beehives;,.. and an unlimited quantity of poultry. Landless peas-
ants who have entered a cooperative pay a monthly rent on the land alloted to them.
?. Upon joining a TKZS, a peasant is required to pay an entrance fee of 80 to 200 lava.
on every decare of land which he formerly owned. The value of his property is
assessed, and his account is credited accordingly. If the value exceeds the amount
of his entrance fee, the cooperative refunds the difference in a period of from
five to eight years. Landless peasants whose other property does not cover the
entrance fee must pay the balance, over a period of years, either in cash or agri-
cultural produce. On leaving the cooperative farm, the peasant is entitled to
receive the same number of decares which he turned over to the TKZS (though'not
the same plot), his livestock, and his agricultural tools, His property is to be
returned by the cooperative within three years from the date of leaving.
8. Among the most important privileges accorded by the government to the cooperative
farms are the following:
a. Exemption from certain taxes for a period of three years;
b, Financial aid for various development works;
c. Grant of land from the government's "land reserve fund"; and
d. Exchange of the cooperatives' plots for better land owned by private peasants.
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9. The crops and other produce of cooperative farms are divided as follows:
a. Delivery quota to the government, repayment of the seeds received on loan
from the government at the beginning of the season, and payments owed to the
machine station;
b. Enlargement of the cooperative's livestock;
c. Allotments to emergency funds (drought or accidents);
d. Payment of wages earned by exceeding the norms; and
e. Sales on the free market to acquire cash for the smooth management of the
cooperative.
The remainder of the produce (the cash derived from its sale on the free market)
is divided as follows:
a. 90 percent for the members' wages (of which 20-30 percent is paid for the land
handed over by the members-when joining the TKZS);
b. 7.3 percent for the drought fund (in addition to the emergency fund described
above);
c. 1.5 percent for the aid fund for invalids and the aged; and
d. 1.2 percent for social institutions.
Members who handed in orchards or vineyards to the cooperatives, receive 30 percent
of the annual net profits derived from their land.
10. Labor on cooperative farms is provided by the members, except for physicians,
technicians, agronomists, and other experts who are on loan from the government.
In emergency cases the TKZS is allowed to engage outside laborers to ensure com-
pletion of urgent work and delivery of the prescribed quotas. Advances are paid
to the cooperative members during the course of the year and accounts are settled
yearly in January. The advances must not exceed 60 percent of the estimated quan-
tity of crops due the individual, based on the farm's production plan, and 50 per-
cent of the cash. The final accounts are reckoned in such a way that the average
daily earnings of a TKZS member amount to four to six leva in cash and 24-26 leva
in kind.
11. The following official figures reflect the growth of the cooperative farms in
Bulgaria from 1945 to 19511:
Year
Number of
TKZS
Number of
Members
Percentage of
Total Land
1945
110
7938
0.55 percent
1946
382
34362
3.0
percent
19147
480
4102 7
3.6
percent
1948
549
739311
6.1
percent
1949
1100
156542
11.5
percent
1950
1608
589201
47.6 percent
1951
2739
1953
2747
1954
3500
700000
60.0
percent
(Approximate figure)
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Machine and Tractor Stations
12. A department of the Ministry of Agriculture controls the machine and tractor
stations (MTS), which provide state farms, cooperative farms, and private
peasants with necessary tools against payment and are therefore self-supporting.
13. The administration of a MTS is as follows:
a. A manager appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture;
b. An assistant manager who is the political officer of the station;
c. A technical manager;
d. A chief accountant; and
e. An agronomist.
Employees of the station are divided among the following departments:
a. Stores;
b. Fuel;
c. Machine shops;,
d. Tractor brigades; and
e. Agronomists and technicians attached to the brigades.
14. There were 1,100 tractor brigades in Bulgaria in July 1954. A 60-man brigade
is detailed to carry out the work at three or four cooperative farms. The normal
working day of a brigade is 12 hours, but in the rush'season members must work
24 hours. All brigade members must take a course with five lectures per month.
15. In July 1954 the number of machine and tractor stations was 2140, with an average
of 75 employees in each station. The total number. of tractors was 10,300 of which
500 were acquired in 1954. At the same time there was a.total of 1594 combines
(200 of them were of local manufacture) of which 234 were acquired in 1954. 'In
1954 the number of special field stations for'the MTS stations was 35. Each station
has 60 fuel tanks of three to five-ton capacity and three or four tankers.
16. In addition to the machine shops in the stations, the government maintains special
workshops for servicing of the. MTS. These shops are as follows:
a. Large 3:ops for major repairs on 50-60 tractors and 50-60 other machines
per year;
b. Smaller shops for repair of 25-30 tractors and an equal number of other machines
per year;
c. 35 mobile workshops mounted on ZIS-105 trucks to make on-the-spot repairs; and
d. Four major shops for general overhaul of tractors and other machines.
Seventeen more workshops are to be set up by 1957.
17. Tractors in Bulgaria are classified into eight types according to horsepower and
make, A driver's wages vary according to the tractor on which he works and the norm
he has fulfilled. An experienced driver who has fulfilled his norm earns 28-38.40
leva in cash and 7.1 to 9.6 kg, of wheat for ,a day's work. An assistant driver
draws 10 percent less, whilelthe head of the tractor brigade draws'25 percent more
than an experienced driver.
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18, The work norm of a tractor-driven combine is 80 decare per shift. The combine
worker who fulfills his norm receives 0.4 leva per decare. For over-fulfillment
of the norm from 80 to 160 decares, the pay is 0,56 leva per decare, and 0.72
leva per decare from 160 decares up,
Peasantvs Morale and Attitude
19. Despite the many improvements, such as electricity, clinics, and libraries., the
Bulgarian peasant who is basically suspicious, finds his standard of living even
lower than before 1944. The prices paid by the state for the delivered quotas
are very low; and the peasant is forced to buy the same products at double or
triple the price which he received for them from the state; while he receives
0,15 levy per kilogram of grain from the state, he must buy it for himself at
3.5 leva,
20. The poor condition of the peasant and his attitude toward the cultural activities
organized by the authorities in the village is illustrated by the Bulgarian maxim,
in current use by the peasants: "A hungry bear doesn't dance". The general atti-
tude of the peasant toward the regime is one of distrust and overt hostility;
however, he expresses his discontent only in the family circle or to close friends.
There is also bitter resentment against the leaders who left the villages to become
loyal Communists. The voice of Bulgarian leaders who live abroad does not reach
the peasant,
21. The attitude of the peasant varies with the district in which he resides. The
influence of the Communist Party is relatively small in the areas of Khaskovo,
Smolyan,, Devin, Blagoevgrad, the Dobrudzha, Vratsa, Kyustendil, and Samokov.
22. Aside from the discrimination of the authorities against the private landowner
whose delivery quotas are much higher than those of the cooperatives, extensive
propaganda campaigns to induce him to join cooperative farms are conducted. Huge
posters and thousands of leaflets, emphasizing the advantages of cooperative
members, are distributed among the peasants. An important factor in the dis-
crimination against the private peasant and his exploitation by the state is the
system of taking fertile soil from the peasant under various pretexts and giving
him poorer land to farm, Sometimes shortly after such an "exchange" and before
the peasant has hardly had enough time to adjust himself to the new conditions,
a new cooperative is formed, and the peasant's land is again exchar ed for a still
poorer area. The constant pressures on the private farmer have been effective to
a certain extent; many have concluded that joining a cooperative will make their
lives quieter and easier.
23. The management of a cooperative farm is handled by the chairman, the chief accoun-
tant, and a few other leading members who have dictatorial powers. Favoritism and
corruption ors rampant in almost all the TKZS. Stealing is considered acceptable
by the members, who have decided that they "must take quickly before the chairman
takes it". A trial against the TKZS chairman in Tsomakovtsi village disclosed that
the chairman, the accountant, and another leading member had managed to store away
a ton of wheat to sell on the free market, the money to be divided among them. An
additional 37 tons of wheat were missing from the stores. Some members who had
first complained to the authorities about the irregularities in the TKZS were ex-
pelled, and one of them was even imprisoned as an "enemy of the people". The
police did not intervene until after more cases of theft had been reported. In
order to alleviate the chronic difficulties of management, the authorities have
set up schools for selected cooperative members in all districts. Graduates are
sent back to the TKZS and "elected" as chairmen.
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24. The following is a breakdown into Regional Categories for Grain, Beans, and Peas:
a. Category 1: Balchik, Burgas (city), Byala-Slatina, Vidin (city and Okoliya),
General Toshevo, Isperikh, Polyanovgrad, Loin Kubrat, Nova Zagora, Oryakhovo,
Pavlikeni, Pleven (city and Okoliya), Tutrakan, Dulovo, Plovdiv (city), Ruse
(city), Svishtov, Stara Zagora (city), Tolbukhin (Okoliya), Yambol (city and
Okoliya), Pazardzhik;
be Category 2: Burgas (Okoliya) Vratsa Oko
( liya), Gorna Oryakhovitsa, Nikopol,
Kolarovgrad (city and Okoliya), Ruse (Okoliya), Lovech, Sofia (city), Kula,
Lukovit, Mihaylovgrad, Novi Pazar, Popovo, Pazardzhik (Okoliya), Plovdiv
(Okoliya), Provadiya, Plirvomay, Razgrad, Silistra, Tervel, Turgovishte, Tfrnovc
(Okoliya), Chirpan;
c. Category 3: Aytos,.Asenovgrad (city and Okoliya), Byala, Vratsa (city), Elkhovo,
Kazanik (city), Pomorie, Preslav, Sevlievo, Sliven (Okoliya), Sofia (Okoliya),
Stalin (Okoliya), Ttrrnovo (city), Khaskovo (city and Okoliya);
d. Category 4: Belogradchik, Breznik, Grudovo, Elena, Kazanluk (Okoliya), Kyustendil
(city), Levskigrad, Omortag, Radomir, Svilengrad, $liven (city), Stalin (city),
Kharmanli;
e. Category 5: Botevgrad, Gabrovo (city and Okoliya), Dimitrovo (city and Okoliya),
Dryanovo, Ivaylovgrad, Ikhtiman, Kyustendil (Okoliya), Michurin, Panagyurishte,
Pirdop, Stanke Dimitrov (Okoliya), Topolovgrad, Troyan, Stanke Dimitrov (city);and
f. Category 6: Ardino, Berkovitsa, Blagoevgrad (city and Okoliya), Godech,~Gotse
Delchev, Devin, Kotel, Krumovgrad, Ktfrdzhal.i (city and Okoliya), Malko Turnovo,
Madan, Momchilgrad, Petrich, Pe8htera, Tazlig (sic.), Trfin, Samokov, Sandanski,
Smolyan.
25. The following are delivery quotas of grain (in kilograms per decare) for
Private Farmers
R
egiona
Cat
l
e
gory
Land in decares'
1
2
3
,
4
5
6
Up to 5 decares
12
10
8
6
4
2
10 - 15
8
l3
10
7
6
3
1
5
12 .
.
4
15 - 20
2
23
19
16
10
7
5
0 - 25
30
25
20
12
8
6
2 5 - 30
30 -
37
40
29
2
.
22
-15
9
7
30 - 35
.
3
24
17
10
8
45
37
2
19
12
9
40 - 45
49
41
32
23
14
10
..~U
50 - 60
53
45
35
26
17
12
6
58
49
39
30
21
12
o - 70
70 - 80
662
53
42
33
24
15
80 - 90
10
68
59
48
39
30
20
- 15
100 - 1225
75 71
62
65
51
54
45
34
22
125 - 150
79
69
57
48
37
27
150 - 175
175
82
72
60
51
40
29
- 200
Ab
85
6
42
31
ove 200
87
77
64
55
44
33
TKZS members (private plots)
12
10
8
6
4
2
Government land
34
28.
'
21
15
10
6
TKZS land
34
28
-
21
:15
10
6
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1954:
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26. The following are delivery quotas of potatoes (in kilograms per decare) for 1954:
Private Farmers
District Category
Land in decares
1
2
3
4
Up to 2 decares
200
180
165
150
2 - 5
210
190
175
160
5 - 10
220
200
185
170
10 - 15
230
210
195
180
15 - 20
240
220
205
190
Above 20
250
230
215
200
TKZS and Government farms
220
200
185
175
Bulgaria has been divided into four districts for assigning delivery quotas.
A TKZS member is exempted from delivering potatoes produced on his private plots.
27. The following is a breakdown into Regional Categories for Hay:
a. Category 1: Balchik, Burgas, Byala - Slatina, Byala, Vidin, Vratsa, General
Toshevo, Gorna Oryakhovitsa, Dulovo, Elkhovo, Isperikh, Uka, Polyanovgrad,
Kubrat, Kazanl c, Kolarovgrad,.Lom, Lukovit, Mihaylovgrad, Nikopol, Novi Pazar,
Nova Zagora, Oryakhovo, Pavlikeni, Pleven, Plovdiv, Provadiya, Popovo,
Purvomay, Razgrad, Ruse, Svishtov, Silistra, Sofia, Sliven,,Stalin, Stara
Zagora, Tervel, Tolbukhin, Turnovo, Tirgovishte, Tutrakan, Khaskovo, Yambol,
Chirpan, Dimitrovgrad;
b. Category 2: Aytos, Berkovitsa, Asenovgrad, Belogradchik, Botevgrad, Blagoevgrad,
Breznik, Gabrovo, Godech, Grudovo, Dryanovo, Dimitrovo, Elena, Kotel, Elin Pelin,
Ivaylovgrad, Ikhtiman, Kyustendil, Levskigrad, Lovech, Omortag, Pirdop, Preslav,
Panagyurishte, Pazardzhik, Pomorie, Radomir, Slivengrad, S'evlievo,Sanokov, Stanke
Dimitrov, Topolovgrad, Teteverl Troyan, Kharmanli;
c. Category 3: Ardino, Gotse Delchev, Devin, Krumovgrad, Kurdzhali, Madan, Malko
Turnovo, Momchilgrad, Michurin, Petrich, Peshtera, Razlog, Smolyan, Sandanski,
Trun.
28. The following are delivery quotas of Hay (in kilograms per decare) for 1954:
Private Farmers
Land in decares
Up to I decares
3 - 4
4 - 5
5 - 6
6 - 7
7 - 8
8 - 9
9 - 10
10 - 15
15 - 20
20 - 25
Above 25
District Category
1 2 3
10 7
15 10
20 15
25 .18
27 21
30 24
35 27
40 30
50 35
60 45
70 55
75 60
20 15 10
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29. The following is a list of prices for. agricultural produce for 1954:
Government price for
Produce delivered quotas
Wheat 0.45 leva (In northern
Bulgaria and Dobrudzha,).
0.40 leva (In southern
Bulgaria)
Rye 0.40 leva (In northern
Bulgaria and Dobrudzha)
0.35 leva (In southern
Bulgaria)
Barley 0.35 leva (In northern
Bulgaria and Dobrudzha)
0.30 leva (In southern
Bulgaria)
Oats 0.40 leva
Millet 0.45 leva
Corn 0.28-0.35 leva
White beans 0.45-0.60 leva
Hay
0.10 leva
Price of flour
in retail stores
5.00 leva
4.50 leva
4.00 leva
3.40 leva
4.00 leva
3.40 leva
3.50 leva
Price in
retail stores
3.50 leva
3.50 leva
3.00 leva
2.50 leva
3.00 leva
2.50 leva
2.50-3.00 leva
2.00-3.00 leva
2.50 leva
4.90 leva
1.00 leva
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