COMMENTS ON PRIME MINISTER SIROKY'S SPEECH CONCERNING CONDITIONS IN AGRICULTURE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000500070001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 23, 2013
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: April 29, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This material contains Information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the Dnited States within the mean-
ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorised person is prohibited
by law.
C-O-N-F-I-D -E-N- T-I-A-L
COUNTRY Czechoslovakia
SUBJECT
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
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Comments on Prime Minis ter Sir oky I s
Speech concerning Conditions in
Agriculture
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
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29 April 1955
11
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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STATE I FIX ARMY
NAVY
/IX I AIR I //X I FBI I I AEC I
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0017
COUNTRY Czechoslovakia
SUBJECT
Comments on Prime Minister Siroky's Speech
Concerning Conditions in Agriculture
DATE OF INFORMATION
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
VOWSSAIES
DATE DISTR. 28 14sr* 1955
NO. OF PAGES 10
REFERENCES:
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.41rwaramai
1. At the plenary session of the CP Central Committee which was held
on 10 and 11 February 1955, Prime Minister Vilem Siroky gave a
speech dealing with the situation in agriculture in Czechoslovakia.
The purpose of the speech was to present a critique of progress
made in carrying out the directives set forth at the 10th Congress
of the Czechoslovak Communist Party and to enumerate procedures
necessary for more eff c - herence to thed4rectivea during
1955. the speech was published in
the Cz,. .- y, e e e ke novinr,d4t?15 February 1955.
Throughout this report, se etc e statements made by the Prima
Minister
re presented in condensed torn
2. Siroky: Although requirements have increased considerably, the
intensity of agricultural production has remained substantially
at pre-war level.
From statements made later in the speech, it is understood
'In--a-z---v-nere are now about 200,000 hectares of fallow land in the
border areas. This acreage represents about four per cent of the
total agricultural land in Czechoslovakia. Therefore, total pro-
duction would probably not have reached pre-war level becauae in
pre-war years there was practically no fallow land in Czechoslovakia.
Actually, the figure of 200,000 hectares quoted by Siroky was too
low anyway; the general consensus among Agroprojekt employees was
that fallow land in border areas totaled approximately 300,000
hectares. Furthermore, it must be taken into consideration that
production on cultivated land in the border areas was far below
the pre-war level. This was true of private farms belonging to
farmers who had resettled in the border areas and even more true
of Unified Agricultural Cooperatives (JW) located in the border
areas. As a matter of fact, the cooperatives in the interior of
the country achieved an average compensation of 12 crowns per work
unit while the cooperatives in the border areas averaged only
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eight crowns per work unit. A work unit represents a certain amount
of a particular type of work as specified by government regulations.
Siro By increasing the barley yield per hectare by 100 kg. in
1955, we could raise enough fodder to produce 15,000 live-weight
tons of hogs.
It is impossible to increase the national yield of a
partfaular crop in the course of one or two years; as a matter
of fact, this requires many years of intensive work.
The present national average milk production per cow does
no equalthe pre-war level; however, the average milk production
per cow on state farms exceeds the pre-war national level. This
indicates that it is possible to achieve the pre-war level of milk
production in all types of agriculture (state farms, cooperatives,
and private farms).
The average milk production per cow on large farms was
a ways higher than the national average. This was due to the
fact that economic conditions were usually better on the larger
farms. Therefore, it is nothing new to find this true on state
farms under the Communist regime, especially since state farms
receive preference in fodder supply. Siroky did not state whether
or not the present state-farm average milk production was higher
than the average milk production on pre-war state farms. Further-
more, a usef-11 comparison cannot be made between Etate-ararrn pmAWlain nd
national pt'uductlon because the Q.Gate?farm production of milk is
a part of the national average.
Si': It is necessary to decrease the amount of loss incurred
during harvest. For example, sugar-beet harvest losses amounted
to 16% this year. If we were to decrease the losses by half,
enough sugar would be gained to equal the market consumption for
two months.
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It is not reasonable to decrease harvest losses beyond
'4T01;o?lint where such decreases would cease to be profitablefand,
therefore, it is useless to raise the question of whether or not
elimination of losses would actually proportionately and profit-
ably increase the production. During the First Republic, sugar?
beet harvest losses were from five to seven per cent. The fact
that losses reached 16% in 1954 indicates that sugar-beet pro-
duction was actually lower than before because no claims of in-
creased production had been made. On the other hand, the fact
that the losses had reached such a high percentage indicates that
the causes for these losses were basic and rather serious and,
therefore, could not be remedied during the course of one year.
Sirokzt In order to increase the yield per hectare* it is necessary
to increase the humus in the soil. Because of improper handling*
stable fertilizer loses about 40% of the value of its organic sub-
stance.
Losses in organic substance amount to from 20 to 25%
w en s able fertilizer is handled properly. The losses in
organic substance actually occurring in Czechoslovakia must have
been higher than 40%; losses undoubtedly reached about 50% with
even higher nitrogen losses, no
cooperatives which handled fertilizers properly and only
one state farm where proper handling was practiced, It was located
in Viglas (N 48-34, E 19-18). When building common stables, very
few cooperatives also constructed the pit necessary for proper
storage of fertilizer. Concrete constructions for storage of
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fertilizer which had been built by private farmers were not fully
utilized because the private farmers had Joined cooperatives and
the cooperatives simply piled the fertilizer in heaps with the
result that the liquid manure flowed off and was not utilized.
Care of fertilizer was also neglected on private farms because
the private farmers were usually preoccupied with more important
work, had been deprived of their farm machinery, and were not
allowed to hire laborers. Furthermore, there were fewer animals
on the cooperatives than there were on the private farms before
the members Joined the cooperatives because each member kept one
cow, one or two hogs, and some fowl for himself and used the
fertilizer on the acreage he was allowed to retain when Joining
the cooperative. This acreage was not to exceed one half hectare.
In this way, the small acreages which are the property of the
individual cooperative members will soon have a sufficient quantity
of humus, while the cooperative acreages will continue to be in-
sufficiently fertilized since they receive manure from a smaller
number of animals than the same acreage received when still owned
by private farmers. The cooperative stables, especially those on
cooperatives located in hilly areas, lacked proper bedding, and
no effort was made to procure substitute bedding such as peat,
potato greens, evergreen rakings, etc. Finally, the private
farmers lost interest in fertilizing their fields because of
constant land reapportionment which meant they never knew whether
or not they would benefit from their own work. As of 1954, some
of the fields of private farmers in Southern Moravia had been re-
apportioned as many as four different times.
7. Siroky: Supplies of artificial fertilizers must be increased.
Supplies were already increased during 1953 -- nitric fertilizers
by 31.4%0 phosphoric fertilizers by 12.3%0 and potassium ferti- 50:00
lizers by 22%.
According to instructions from the Ministry of Agriculture,
1-t-n?elperatives, in 19530 were entitled to receive eight kilograms
of nitrogen, eight kilograms of P205: and 16 kg. of K20 for each
hectare of arable land. These amounts were for grains; allotments
of nitric fertilizer and potassium fertilizer were slightly higher
for root crops and the allotment of phosphoric fertilizer was
slightly higher for commercial and fodder crops. When considering
the percentage increases for 1954 which were prescribed by Siroky?
one finds that the amounts of fertilizers reached approximately
10.7 kg. of nitrogen, 9.3 kg. of P205, and 19.1 kg. of K20 per
hectare of arable land. These amounts were still very low, con-
sidering that the usual amounts of fertilizer used until 1948
were 30 kg. of nitrogen, from 20 to 30 kg. of phosphorus, and
from 6o to 80 kg, of potassium per hectare. It is true that these
amounts were not used by all farmers in Czechoslovakia; however,
the use of these amounts was very frequent and proved profitable
for acreages of all sizes.
8. Siroky: In our effort to increase the fertility of the soil, we
must substantially improve the liming of sour and slightly sour
soil.
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-1e=,;:l The liming of sour, slightly sour, and even neutral soil
scontinued in 1948 because all small kilns were put out of
operation, slaked lime was used exclusively in the building
industry, and there were not enough laborers to perform the work
of liming the soil. Because of the labor shortage and the lack
of equipment for spreading lime, liming by means of saturated
sediment from sugar refineries was also discontinued. As a matter
of fact, sediment accumulated in the sugar refineriers was beginning
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to hinder operations there. Therefore, in 1952, the sediment was
ordered removed from the sugar refineries; but it was 1954 before
source saw fields being limed with it. Thomas Aeal was unobtain-
able. Although this meal usually served as phosphoric fertilizer,
it contains from 50 to 60.% lime. There was also a complete lack
of calcium cyanamide (Ca N2 C) and calcium nitrate. Ammonium
sulphate ((NI14)2 804) and a superphosphate (Ca(H2PO4)2) were
usually used as nitric and phosphoric fertilizers, respectively.
These fertilizers contained only a small quantity of lime. When
today, the importance of liming fields is stressed, the question
arises as to whether or not there will be sufficient quantities
of Thomas meal and calcium cyanamide for this purpose. Further-
ores if the goals set by the 10th CP Congress calling for in-
creased construction of apartments are to be met, it is doubtful
that sufficient quantities of lime,- if any at all, will be made
available for agricultural purposes. This is especially true
considering the fact that it has recentlybeen very difficult to
obtain lime for minor repairs of homes andfor liming walls. The
lack of lime will be even more acute should emphasis again be
placed on expanding heavy industry, which' is likely to be the case.
9. Almjsv If seeds are of poor quality, the resulting crop will be
poor in spite of all the care and fertilizer which might be applied.
This is common knowledge and the officials are aware of it. Why
is it then that farmers receive poor-quality seeds?
E-cei" seeds because of the government policy prevailing at
From 1950 through 1953, private farmers were not allocated
that time, i.e., only state farms and cooperatives were entitled
to receive and reproduce these seeds.1 The "quality" seeds were
frequently of poor quality because of the general situation on
cooperatives and state farms, but nothing was done to correct this.
On the contrary, seeds which under ordinary circumstances could
not be considered "quallty" seeds were frequently ordered to be
classified as such because of poi:Lulea' reasons -- so that the
prestige of state farms and cooperatives would not suffer, or in
order to insure compliance with a production plan. This is the
reason why seeds which were allocated for 1954 and 1955 and
classified "quality" were often actually of very poor grade.
This situation cannot be improved in one year. Actually, several
years are required to improve the ?vermin quality.
10. Sirky: In order to increase crop yields, we must apply new
methods as they were developed in Soviet agriculture and success-
fully tested in our country. We must do this on a larger scale,
than in the past. To name only some of them:
a. Condensed sowing of grain.
b. Check-planting of potatoes.
0, Raising calves in isolation.
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a. The question of sowing grain in rows which are more closely
spaced was dealt with in various agricultural publications
during 1951 and 1952. It was stated at that time that sowing
grain in this manner would raise the crop yield from 1,000 to
1,400 kg. per hectare. Later, the statement was modified to
claim an increase of only 300 to 400 kg. per hectare. This
method of sowing was recommended and publicized in Czechoslovakia
by Dr. Ing, Simon (Thu), professor at the Agricultural Institut*
in Brno, who experimented with this method in Southern Moravia.
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This method proved satisfactory there, apparently because
of the climatic conditions in that area -- there is not much
rain in the spring. Dr. Ing Eduard Baudys, chief of the
Phytopathological Institute in Brno and head of the Department
of Phytopathology at the Agricultural Institute in Brno, did
not agree with Simon and claimed that this method of sowing
grain was not suitable for areas receiving more rainfall than
Southern Moravia. Since it was wiser not to oppose Soviet
methods too strongly, the methods were tested in other areas
of Czechoslovakia and were found to be satisfactory, increasing
the crop yield by 200 to 300 kg, per hectare. However, no one
appeared to be concerned about the fact that the sowing process
was more expensive and harvest losses were greater in rather
wet areas when applying the new method than when using the
standard system common to the area. The harvest losses were
higher because when the grain was sown in more closely spaced
rows in rather damp areas it had a greater tendency to fall
and rot. This was especlally true when stiff-stemmed grains
such as Pyselka, a derivative of Carsten grains or some other
stiff-stemmed types were unavailable.
b. Regarding the checked method of planting potatoes, i.e., fields
made up of squares measuring 70 cm. each with two potato tubers
at each corner'
It
would be unreasonable to introduce this method in Czechoslovakia
since potatoes planted in a checked pattern normally require
cross?cultivation three times during the crop year.
not believe this work could be properly accomplished because
the cultivation of potatoes occurs at the same time as the hay
harvest. In fact, there was not usually enough time and labor
available to cultivate prolonay potatoes planted according to
the old method, i.e., in rows which were about 35 cm. apart
with potatoes planted about one foot apart within the rows.
This older method required cultivation of potato rows in one
direction only, and only twice during the crop year. Even when
using this method, the potatoes were cultivated only once and
sometimes were not cultiva;. of lack of time
and labor. Therefore it might be better
to continue planting ?does accor 'ng to the old method and
to try to cultivate the entire potato crop twice during the
year rather than to try to introduce new planting methods.
Another problem would arise when planting the potatoes in a
checked pattern. Czechoslovakia had no machinery to usefor
this method. There are machines for planting potatoes in rows
but they are still not developed to complete satisfaction.
c. Siroky claims that "more than 38,000 calves were successfully
raised by the cold(aie) isolation method during 1954, which
method, among other advantages, lowers the death rate of calves
and will restore the health of our cattle". The "cold (air)
Isolation method" consists of weaning the newborn calf immedi-
ately and isolating it in a so-called Steyman hut, a wooden
hut measuring approximately 150 cm. long, 150 cm, high, and
80 cm. wide. This hut affords minimum protection from the
elements and supposedly permits the calf to develop faster and
become more rugged than if it were raised under conventional
procedures. In addition, the fact that the calf is isolated
immediately minimizes the exposure to disease. Whether or
not the isolation method is successful cannot be determined
for at least three years after it has been put into practice,
since this period of time is required to ascertain the
quality of the resulting cattle. When discussing restoring
the health of cattle, perhaps it would be better first to
concentrate on improving the health of the cows rather than
to begin by trying to improve the calves. Siroky did not
mention the number of animals presently suffering from Bang's
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Disease, rachitis, Mastitis, or from herpes, a skin disease
which was prevelant in the Karlovy Vary Region. What will
be the fate of the 38,000 healthy calves raised by the isolation
method when they are put into stables where they receive in-
sufficient care, where the supply of bedding is inadequate,
and where they receive just enough fodder to produce one-
half liter milk daily? As a matter of fact, there were co-
operatives where the average milk production was only one-
half liter per cow per day; for example, the cooperative in
Moravsky Lacnov (N 49-46, E 16-29) recorded this low production
rate during 1953.
11. Siroky: We must solve the problem of coordinating research and
practical application of new methods. When performing experiments,
the research worker must be in touch with the greatest possible
number of cooperatives and state farms; he must follow, check, and
guide the work of the pioneers and those testing the improvements
in actual practice.
ollaboration between members of scientific circles and
e actualagricultural workers was very unsatisfactory because
the average scientific worker was overloaded with matters dealing
with politics and publicity in his field. Another reason for
poor collaboration was the fact that the cooperatives and state
farms were not willing to carry out practical experiments for
comparative and confirmative purposes because this only involved
additional work for them. Frequently, an experiment was initiated
by a cooperative or state farm which, not being interested in the
experiment, failed to establish the results of the experiment or
arrived at them in such a poor manner that they could not be used
as a basis for further scientific work. Actually, the research
centers had the main responsibility for performing experiments;
however, these centers suffered from continuous changes 'in their
administrative setup. During 1950 and 1951 the centers were
Independent; then, for a short time in 1952, they were subordinated
to the General Management of State Farms which existed at that time;
sometime, still in 1952, they became independent again; later they
were subordinated to the Main Administration for Research of the
Ministry of Agriculture and received scientific supervision from
the Czechoslovak Academy of Agricultural Science. The Academy of
Agricultural Science assigned the scientific problems, but the
centers were given a definite period of time during which a problem
was to be solved and, because of this policy, work was often poor
and superficial.
12. Siroky: The reason for the unsatisfactory results of the "new
course" in agriculture up to the present time is not that the
level of agricultural production can only be raised slowly, as
claimed by some of our experts, but rather that the whole program
was improperly initiated in the first place.
E.;-[1:1 It is possible to raise production to the pre-war level,
s doubtful, however, if this can be done under the Communist
regime or when using Communist methods. To raise production above
the pre-war level would be very difficult and can be accomplished
only over a long period of time and through the application of new
scientific methods which would further normal development. As a
matter of fact, Czeohoslovak pre-war agriculture was on a relatively
high level and the acreage on which the level of agricultural
production could be raised substantially was insignificant.
13. Siroky: The directives of the 10th CP Congress called for a
substantial increase of fodder crops. This is the key to animal.
production. Actualiyi fodder crops have been neglected; the
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yield of these erops, with the exception of barley, has been far
below the possible production capacity and even below the average
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a. Because fodder production is lower than it was before the war,
animal production is necessarily limited, since practically
no fodder has been imported from abroad. The decrease in
animal production not only makes for smaller financial gains
but also results in the production of smaller quantities of
fertilizer which, in turn, causes a reduction of sugar?beet
and potato yields.
b. Requirements for alfalfa and clover seeds were scarcely met,
and no rapid increase in the amount of this production can
be expected because the clover-grass and alfalfa-grass mixtures
which had been introduced for use as green fodder and hay in
1950 offer no possibility for producing seeds for reproduction
purposes. Only seeds from pure alfalfa and pure clover crops
can be used for reproduction purposes and it will, take at
least two years before pure alfalfa and pure clover can be
produced in large enough quentitiee to supply seeds for in-
creasing alfalfa and clover productien. There was also a
shortage or grass?mixture seeds for use on meadows and pastures
and there was a oomplete lack ef all special seeds for "short
time" fodder mixtue;s,such as ligrus, trifolium inearnatUm,
brasica? Vi413 cabin, soja hispida, pisum sativum, lens,
trifolium retens, and lupinus.
o. Meadow and pasture yields were low because of the lack of
artificial fertilizers and beeause old irrigation constructions
were not maIntained and no new ones were built, /n the interior
of the country, this situetien existed primarily because of lack
of money and the leek of interest on the part of the private
farmers, The situatton was mueh more serious in those border
areas where people had not been repettled.
14. Sir k : We cannot he satiafied wtth the progress made regarding
enaii.age.
No silos have been eonstruoted during the last few years 50X1
ecause construction was expensive and there was a leek of
necessary building material, particularly cement. For the same
reasons, it is not likely that new silos will be constructed in
the near future. In addition, the coeperatives did not make
sufficient use of the silos which had been built by private
farmers.
15. Siroky: The directives of the 10th CP Congress stressed the
principle of creating individual fodder funds within each district,
cooperative, and village.
The realizatton of this program would involve much more
athe improvement of ovganization in farming procedures, as
claimed by Siroky, because the problem directly involves the
attempt to be self-sufficient in Czechoslovak agricultural pro-
duction. Since it is practically impossible to increase the yield
of fodder on existing acreage, increasing the acreage devoted to
fodder crops and proportionately decreasing the acreage of another
crop should be considered. However, this is not likely to be
the case because it is the policy of the r4gime not to decrease
the present acreage of any crop.
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16. Siroky: The situation regarding livestock, especially cattle,
is very unsatisfactory and little attention is given to scientific
research dealing with our animal production.
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a. One of the main reasons for the situation regarding livestock
being unsatisfactory is that the time-twted breeding pro-
cedures have been discontinued. In transferring the livestock
from private farmers to cooperatives, the official records
which had been accurately kept for each animal were almost
entirely destroyed; thus the line of descent could no longer
be determined. The Jobs of Livestock Breeding Controllers
were abolished. These officials kept pedigree records and
maintained continuous data on individual animals. The markets
for brood animals were discontinued shortly after the intro-
duction of the Communist agricultural policy and were only
reestablished at the beginning of 1954.
b. One of the basic problems in animal production is hog breeding.
The Communists transferred the bulk of hog breeding from small
breeding Units as they existed on private farms to large breed-
ing units, most of which were set up on state farms. The
remaining large breeding units were built as independent
centers which were known as "giants". The large units were
of several types but none of them proved satisfactory; all
the units were cold, humid, and lacked proper bedding. These
conditions resulted in the strain becoming infested with dis-
temper which also affected the offspring and dangerously in-
creased the death rate of sucklings. Furthermore, because of
the conditions in the breeding pens, resistance to other
diseases was lowered. After the results of this practice had
been determined, the whole idea of "giant" breeding centers
was abandoned; certain individuals were held responsible for
the failures and were tried. However, the large breeding
centers at the state farms were not reorganized and none of
the scientific workers were eager to assist in such reorgani-
zation, perhaps because they were afraid that in the future
they might be held responsible for any suggested changes and
resulting costs. Furthermore, the government preferred to have
hog breeding concentrated on the state farms and thus have
complete control of the production of pork and pork products
because of their importance to the life of the nation. They
preferred a kind of compromise and claimed that the health of
the Czech white hog had deteriorated and its resistance to
disease was lowered because of constant attempts to improve
the strain; therefore, they believed it would be necessary
to breed a new type of hog which would be more adaptable to
the new conditions. They did not mention that such a solution
to the problem would require about 10 years.
17. Siroky: In 1954, the Machinery and Tractor Pools received hundreds
of binders and thousands of spreaders for both natural and commercial
fertilizers.
s of 1953, there was a complete lack of spreaders for
far lizers and thus, even if it were true that thousands of them
were delivered to the Machinery and Tractor Pools in 1954, it
does not necessarily fellow that there were enough to fulfill the
demands. Siroky did not mention the quality of the machinery
which was, as a matter of fact, quite poor. The tractor drivers
complained that the binders only operated efficiently for two
seasons and then had to be overhauled'.
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18. Siroky:
a. The Machinery and Tractor Pools require cadres of tractor
drivers, maintenance mechanics, foremen, and agronomists.
b. Up to now, the Tractor and Machinery Pools have failed in
their task to effect the changoover from existing agricultural
systems to socialistic agricultural mass production.
What Siroky meant was that the Tractor and Machinery Pools
mus perform their work well in order to contribute their share
toward the development of socialistic agriculture. But the prob-
lem lies in the fact that the Tractor and Machinery Pools cannot
perform their work well. As a matter of fact, the cadre procedures
for recruiting personnel for the Machinery and Tractor Pools were
more stringent with regard to obtaining reliable Communists than
in any other field of agriculture. The result of this policy was
that personnel, particularly key personnel, were not agricultural
apecialists and were often people whose attitude toward agriculture
was negative and remained so. To rectify this situation and recruit
qualified personnel would necessitate discontinuing the severe
cadre policy, since it is very difficult to secure qualified
personnel who are also reliable Communists. But it is also obvious
that professionally qualified personnel who are not reliable
Communists cannot be expected to encourage the adoption of
socialistic agriculture.
19. Siroky: The resettlement of the border areas must be completed,
since this is essential for increasing agricultural production,
but the 1954 investment plan for building up the border districts
is far from being fulfilled.
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It is very difficult to carry out the resettlement pro-
gram in the border areas, especially in the western border areas
where most dwellings are in ruins and large capital investments
are necessary for their reconstruction. All of the farm buildings
in the western border areas must be completely rebuilt. Further-
more, not many people are willing to resettle in the border areas
because they are afraid that the former Czechoslovak-German nationals
might return to the area.
20. Siroky: We are experiencing difficulties in cultivating fallow land
in the border areas; yet, in 1956, the USSR plans to sow grain on
an area of new land totaling about 30,000,000 heotares, which is
almost six times as great as the entire area of arable land in
Czechoslovakia.
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Thirty million hectares is about 1.37% of the total of 50:00
Colterritory, while the 200:000 hectares of fallow laid in
Czechoslovakia is approximately 1.56% of the total of Czechoslovak
territory. There are many more people needed to cultivate one
hectare of fallow land in Czechoslovakia than are needed in the
USSR because Czechoslovak land cannot be cultivated by the extensive
farming method which will be utilized in the USSR. The natural
fertility of soil in Czechoslovakia is low and therefore Soil cannot
be cultivated over a period of years without simultaneously raising
livestock and using manure to increase fertility of-the
21. Siroky: Production costs on state farms were about 25% higher than
production costs on cooperatives and this difference was even greater
with regard to some products, e.g., potatoes and cattle.
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/23: CIA-RDP82-00046R000500070001-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/23: CIA-RDP82-00046R000500070001-8,
CONFIDENTIAL
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This was the first time it was officially admitted that
production costs on state farms were higher than in other types
of farming. However, the fact that production costs were lower
on cooperatives does not mean that production itself was more
profitable on the cooperatives than on state farms, but rather
that production costs on cooperatives were lower because the
cooperatives did not have to pay a minimum wage as did the state
farms.
22. Siro : The task of the state farms, i.e., to be the avant-Aarde
of socialistic agricultural mass production, requires that the
national morale and the morale of the laborers be raised and that
the employees be taught their true relationship to socialistic
property.
In this statement Siroky was acknowledging the fact that
he employees on state farms steal. As a matter of fact, thefts
of produce on state farms became the common practice for supple-
menting wages. These thefts occurred in spite of the fact that
wages on state farms have increased compared to farnawages in
pre-war years. For example, wagon drivers formerly earned 200 crowns
per month in comparison to their present salary of Soo crowns. This
comparison is based on the calculation that the rate of the pre-war
crown to the present crown averages one to three, not considering
actual purchasing possibilities, of course. Theft on state farms
is tacitly tolerated because the personnel in charge are not usually
really interested in the results of the farming and they do not wish
to become unpopular with their subordinates. This is especially true
in cases where the subordinate personnel are more politically active
than their superiors.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/05/23: CIA-RDP82-00046R000500070001-8