AGRICULTURE/PLANT DISEASE CONTROL/QUARANTINE/GENETICS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000400270002-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 17, 2013
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: March 31, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

ACCICIPATVIM rintralTnvigmrAT .A it
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
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COUNTRY Bulgaria DATE DISTR. 3 50)(11 g 54
SUBJECT Agriculture/Plant Disease Controliguarantine/GeneticeNO. OF PAGES
PLACE -
ACQUIRED
DATE
ACQUIRED BY SOURCE
DATE OF INFORMATION
THIN 00000E00 CONTAINS INFOONATIoN AFFECTIN4 TAN NATIONAL p KKKK SI
Or THE uNITEO KKKKKK EITWIN TAN mIANINS OF TITLE tep 11071091 793
AND TOO, Or TN1 U.N. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS IRAN KKKKKKKK ON NINE.
lATION or ITS CONTENTS TO OM RECEIPT IV AN UNAUTHORIZED OOOOOO IS
FRoNINITEo IV LAW, THE NNNNNN UCTION OF THIS 'SRN IS PROM
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
Background
1, In discussing the status and. productivity of Bulgarian agriculture one should
consider the basic fact that in agricultural economy this country is perhaps
one of the most overpopulated. in all of Europe, if not the World. For example, '
one square kilometer of cultivated soil in Bulgaria employed 97 persons. For
similar activities the following are submitted in order to provide a comparison:
A. Hungary employs 72 persons per One square kilometer of cultivated soi1
B. Italy it 90 tt ditto
' C. Germany It 52 11 ditto
D. France ti 48 It ditto
E. LIX,-:J,e, 11 30 11 ditto
F. US 1, 17 It ditto
In other words, for each person engaged in agriculture in Bulgaria, available
statistics disclose that he is allotted 152 Ares 5.756 acres/ while in other
countries the following prevails:
A. In,Rumania a person similarly engaged is allotted 213 Axes
B. In Italy II It IT If II " 258 "
C. In Germany t1 1I q n ft� II 352 11
D, In France II 11 tt t1 It II 450 11
E; In UK Il tf it 11 II 14 1224 VI
F. In US n . It 11 If tl tl 13011. 11
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2. Another factor which I deem extremely important in viewof the present attempts
of the Communist CovernMent of ,Bulgaria to engage,4nliadustrial endeavor is the
, , . , _ �
following;. ILLEGIB
IC
A. It was :generally known throughout agrarian Circles in Bulgaria prior to
1945 'that 68 perdent of the total population-was'engaged in agricultural
50X1 work., Numerous surveys had been conducted in prior years. I recall that
in conjunction with scientists from the US, made several
surveys in orcer to.iascertain what_proportion1of the BUlgarian non-ulatinn
should be delibted -exeluetvely
or tLie isulgarians engaged in
stages of employment that the
In other words, 28 percent Of
to provide an adequate living or an adequate income for themselves. We
realized that new industries would eventually have to be established where-
by this surplus labor could be diverted into gainful and productive employ-
ment,
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L.Luqly4 �O percent
were actually in sueh
only as surplus labor,
pUlation were unable
lhalgarianagriculture:Uvto1945 proVided:prOduce far beyondthe needsrof,
the nation. Consequently, an emphasis was placed upon export. The Ilicome
-derived 'from the export of raw agricuItural:prodUee-was never sufficient-,
eatisfy�the basi financialineedsorthe,farming element,
C. Real/zing that the economy of Bulgariawas.intricatelY Utermeehed.with:,
her agrieultural,yield,me concentrated,on:,the eventual establishmente
indmetrieS in whict rawagriculturallme,erials.could be manufactured or
.develeped .into either'eemiutinished:or finished 'products, The ultimate'
4nd:sought was the creation of newlsources:of national income.
To me, the aboVe hasfam.important connotation,for when the So7iet'economy.
and ComMUnilain.preVailed%inBulgariara potentialsourde of labor whichAbiY:
could utilize 'in their new forms of planning already existed. The previous
28 percent Or,sUrplus'laboting.element).wairideally suited to the propa-
gandizing schemes of the 'New Order"! In other words,. this segment of the
p9pu1ation realized full well that under the old Bulgarian economy their
future waii.tery dtni Subsequently (in my estimation).444group was ready
and willing to accepteconoMic reform whichWould:providel'iRttalepla-new.
aabor outlet. It,. is my underetanding�that-the Soviets, that is the waloAri
Jam ComMunists, are .now employing these peoples it the development of -heavy
industry.-: they are definitely no longe: lil:e.gridultural fields ,of work.
Major Food Crops
4. Major food cropelroduced for domestic consumption in Bulgaria prior to World
War II and up to-1945 were wheat, torn and rye. In my estimation these three
were the most important of all food croPs. We did grow considerable amounts
of oats which we fed to our own livestock. Prior to World War II we shipped
large quantities of corn and wheat,to Western Europe. After these markets
were closed, we proved to be one of Germany's largest producers or providers.
_-
5.
Exceptionally large quantities of'tomatoep tomato produnts�,etrawbertiee,eind
fruits were grown,- The fruit yield was always good and as a consequence
excess Yields were turned into various varietiee,of marmalades and jellies.
Income Crops
The largest income crop in Bulgaria, perhaps number one in providing national
income, was tobacco.. Corn may have been a close second. Attar of rOse6�:
particularly from Slivna Gora, was exported to Various parts of the world,
but did not provide.as large an income as was generally attributed to this
item. Surprisingly, Bulgaria, up to 1945, was an exceptionally large
producer of eggs. In fact, at one time one of Bulgaria's Ministers, of
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Agriculture stated. that Bulgarian agricultural ecOnomy: ShoUld not 5.,gnore. the
�fact that -egg production and egg sales were almoet as iterative .as the, tio
aforementioned products.
7. � Bulgarian agridu,ltural-productiorihnnder the .New State ftle Communist Stat2
has deeriphasized the groWth of the 'preVi:O'usly mentioned crop's and vegetables
which in prior years, ha& been sold' to *Stern Europe. It -is my thought that
the curtailment,ofsuch productiOn Vrai''-'4ione 'under the direction of the Soviet
Government because some of the PetiehabIe-:yield of BUlgaria cod not� be
exported to the Soviet. Union prOper4 ...:�GOnSekittently� the agricultural intiustr-
of Bulgaria is now :59512 devntAtsA;K�21till-el T1 �fibuo,. itho; ,tres and needs, of the
ILLEGIB
Plant Diseases,
�
8. A constant source, :of haraasment. to-agrimatUral producers was rust..
_ .
infection. affected the cereals li-bted- above: Its priaary victim was corn*:
Rust, of course, is essentially dependent on the climate of a country for
its vitality and development. I can recall that it was particularly bother-
some AUti�ng the periods' of humidity VhiCh-rdebt usually began th.the- lett*
part of April and the early part. of May. 'In 'the: event :that hS.dity'd14iot
prevail during those months, We had. no difficulty in tbatting this infection.
r
9. Another disease which was prevalent _up to 1.94). a ,dpease which attacked, the
spores and seeds of kernels -ot corn turning :them black; was the German '''"Brent".
(I do' ncit recall the Bulgarian pat�for' this disease.) Brent and rust were
the two Mott fortaiclable. In order to' coike'yith these diseases,- Bulgarian
experimental stations' Undertook several measures, First they attempted :to:
develop a new' Variety' of Corn which -4otild." Proire resistant to these afflictions
and. secondly, they planned to develop corn_ which would 'yield in a shorter
growing- period. I UnderstAnd-tha ' the tolsheyikri are t COntinUing. these -
-experiments and. have heard that they ',hei;Ve been pucCeSSful in carrying. them
lout. ,
�E�rimerital Stations'
10. Experimental stations are located throughout j34gar a,eetimate that
� ,
there are from 30 to 40' epread throughout the country'. Thre'e'AtSthe, 'larger
experimental stations -are Iodated at�Sof.9.1,,- Sidoyo and at LukoViti:
mental stations have been establish� i the: ai.eas ,of greatest production..
Each station, of cbtirse, specialises- in'lleveIoping technical skill Parallel
to the types of crops produced in given areas. .
Plant Pests
11. I can recall two plant pests ,which were prevalent- in Bul ria. One of theta
is what we Bulgarians called the Sobatnitza Liralssh.opper Another animal
pest was the well-known Colorado bug.- This bias Was at no time out of .control
in the country -- we were always sucCestfui.in controlling it. I understand
that under the Soviet system almost all walks of lite 'have been mobilized' 'to,
combat the Colorado bug. City dwellers, agricultural workers and students
engaged in collecting such insects- arid bilge and e.lsO in assieiting
twists -generally. In my estimation; sdch activity 'is the refs-nit of SoViet
successes in alerting the population 'of Bulgaria to so-cal'le'd' biological' -
warfare conducted by the"Western imperialists%
12. The only disease or infection which I know that might be considered. as a
� constant threat is the battle with rust.,; The 'Severity of mit, as previouely
mentioned., is in direct proportion to the periods of humidity within.BUlgaria.
In other words, if during the last three weeks prior to harvest Of Corn there
is no humidity, rust can be controlled." If, on the other hand, there is a
period of humidity during these last three -Weeks,_ the struggle to aaire corn
is terrific.
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13. One ofthe most developedservices.rendered,:by the Bulgarian State of. today�;
D:9510 is its pr9teCtion against 14a/it (11.-ses_and Aneects, One-would
naturally,presume.that the Ministry of Agriculture would be the chief organ-
ization concerned with plant protection. However, under the New State, all
organizations,,and'aerYie,es. 1441.0 4041..undeT its administration are, palled
-
�upon to render serVice.against,plant iPfection and disease,. even the mayors
� of .the towns and the leaders,of,ths yiUages are held responsible for such
protection�.,
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ILLEGIB
14, Thellinistry of Agricultural provincialAgriculturists and Bulgarian e3t-berilo.
mentOnstations forwa #449040 14,c0iFfky41,10.:Aqpc,epds from the highest.. ,
level to the village unit. By virtue of such organization the detection of
any new diseases or infection reaches from the highest level to the lowest
very rapidly.- Organizationally Bulgaria is divided into districts, sub-
lietricts, and village units. In each of these categories are lOcated PtiblieILLEGIB
"agronoMesffgricultUral abecialietswhOse:miseion,is-to.provideS.gricultural
serviceswhenever .1,-49H4Pt:.1S4PY,4at.-Pch People are.calied,under
the new:set...up, but.theiryork still c9niep.. Asimilar structure which
deals .entirely with animal infection *14 onewhich is verywell:developed
fallm4er the cognizance of,thsveteripary departments: which take their
.orders from the Ministu,of Agriculture,
Treatment and Quarantine
15. With ,reference to,the.exiStence.of preparations -Ouch as fungicides and
..inse9ticidesr there is no doubt:in,my:mind:that:they currently ff.95.117...
exist in sufficient.quantitywithin thee9untry. It mus be remembered.
that Bulgarian agriculture mAnY Yearq!,YP-s-under the influence and the
assietance,of the Westerfl .oxld, particularly the us, .A number 9f B1140144
agricultural scientists .Who profited from,US scholarship funds are currently
engaged inteaching:and directing,agricultUre.at the,University.of Sofia. I
know. definitely that up, until 1945.there.were existent in Sofia and the:
border towns, particularly adjacent to Turkey, a number of well equipped
bacteriological stations. Actually the bacteriological stations which were
located on, the Turkish border served a twofold purpose. First, they inspected
and-COntrolled produce and products coming into the Balkans from Turkey which
pl_turn:reshipped products which she (Turkey) le4:receIvedu:rOm Asia04ctual1y�
these Stations served as. a_standard bearerfor,other. countrielv.0,11esternEurope
for:whenever:personnel_at these stationefividenced a dieease or:an4nfeetation,
they immediately dispatched such informatiOn to:the .neighboring countries,
,
16. ,measures alwaySfunctioned well* Bulgaria. In fact,
We were most successful in preventing the spread of Turkish or Asian
animal pests and crop infections to other parts of Europe. However, when
Soviet forces occupied the Balkans, particularly, in 1945 and 19460 they intro-
duced diseases which were, not common to Mgariag example,, they intro
duced a new variety of ho9f,.rend.m0144 411gAse-yhicli,we hed never witneese
before. They also introduced Siberian venereal 410easepidwhich were. resist
to modern antibiotics such as ,
Plant Pathologists
17. All the experimental stations in Bulgaria were staffed with plant 2ath9lOgists
who had been trained at the Central Institute of the Universityof Sofia..
Until 1914.5 combat arTtrst plant diseases was placed under the direction and
control of Prof .pia!ter, Atanosoff, This professor had established an
excellent reputation in Europe in the field_ofplant,pathology.. In fact, he
was considered an expert. He introduced up methods garnered from hip own
education while a student in the US and eleoctraine4 all Bulgarian patholo-
gists in the CS pattern. I would say the,t4lant pathology under. Atenosoff,
was highly developed, so developed, in fact, that this field of science was
as effective as in any other European Country, . Professor Atanopoff must have
at least 50 first class specialists today 2)790 whom he personally has trained
for the past twenty years -- all engaged in plant pathology.
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18. In reading today's Bulgarian newspapers and scientific jOUrnals, I nOtice'
that there has been a transition in Bulgarian thought concerning agriculture.
Today .5505117 I notice constant mention of means etployed in combatting
diseases. Such material even appears in the comics.
19.
Entomology
-
-rate workers are available on a large scale. As I preViOuSIy Mentioned,
special brigades are engaged to manually remove insects from plant life (at
that stage prior to mobility of plant bugs). In addition to manual destruc-
tion of bugs, chemical means are employed in combatting insects and other
forms of plant Pests. (I cannot recall the names of chemical preparations
used, but I am positive that the common US types are well known because of
US influence.) I.cannot recall the use of herbigides in controlling weeds
in cereal growth since World War II, but I am pOSitive that none were employed
up to 1945.
Genetics and Selection
20. Prior to Soviet influence, geneticS and selection in both plant and animal
breeding were among the most developed fields in Bulgarian agricultural
science andanimal husbandry -. thanks to the support of various U5 research
'foundations. This situation no longer prevails for Bulgarian professional "
met, both in veterinary and agripultural fields, iS44ed a declaration in 1949
by which they renounoed the Western p41,1PsOphY* of.04etioe. Further, they
apologized for having followed the criminal praCilCie of the Nazis and the
Westerners. Atter this acknowiedgment of guilt they overtly aligned them-
selves with Michurinism, acknowledging that this was the valid philosophy
underlying genetics and selection. Today LT957michurinism is taught not
only on the higher educational plane, but it reaches down into the elementary
schoolsbecoming more intense as the student enters tb* middle schools sigh
schoolitb.
Bulgarian Students
21. The educational requirements and standards of the University of Sofia up to
19450 particularly in the department of agriculture.), science, were very high.
Only 70 top scholars from all of Bulgaria were admitted per year. These 70
hadmanifetblidtheir scholastic ability in middle schools prior to acceptance
by the faculty of the department of agriculture. OOnSequently, we had very
few failures with the result that each year we graduated approximately 70
toy-flight agriculture Specialists. With the inception Of the New Bulgarian
State this situation has ridiculously retrogressed for under the new system
hundreds upon hundreds of students with relatively no background have been
permitted to enter. I believe that in either 1952 or 1953 the enrollment in
the agricultural college was approximately 1500 students. A number of Soviet
professors were admitted to the faculty and, as I'understand, most of them
were not qualified people. The result is obvious. The level of instruction
and-daliber of students has been woefully weakened with the result that many
non-qualified people are working in the field. The Soviets,- of course, in
creating this situatibn have not deviated from their well-known adage:
"Quantity makes quality".
ILLEGIB
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