ACTIVITY ON A KOLKHOZ IN THE ARMENIAN SSR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T00246A049200850001-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 14, 2010
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 6, 1959
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Bsplonage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C. Secs. 793 end 794, the transmission or revelation of which is any manner to an unauthorized person >e prohibited by Lw.
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE 8~
DATE ACQ.
u-SSR (Armenian SSR)
Activity an a Kolkhoz in
the .Armenian SSR
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. PAGES 1
REFERENCES RD
Armenian SSR, which covers the following topics:
a. Fading methods,
b. ~K~lkhoz organization.
c? Flan and act~a.al harvest 1957; plan 195$?
d~ Kolkhoz finances,
e.. Koik.'~czri2ii reacti-~ns to structural changes.
P.
F ti G~;,.'. f ` 1
STATE X ARMY ][NAVY X A I R
X _BI
AEC
Q
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6. The months of January an a ruary are re at vely quiet months on
the kolkhoz. Work begins on a full-time schedule in mid-February. At that
time, if there is no excessive snow, all the irrigation ditches are cleared
of sediment. The water comes from the Aras River and is very muddy. In
February, work begins at 8 or 9 a.m. The brigadier gives his workers their
assignments the previous day. (The brigadier himself receives his orders
from the president of the kolkhoz.) In addition to work on the irrigation
ditches, February is the month when ditches are dug around all fruit trees,
four meters around and one meter deep. Superphosphate and manure are dropped
into these ditches. This fertilization of fruit trees is complete],y finished
in February.
?. In March,~,workers engaged in taking earth off the grape
vines. (The earth was placed over the vines in the months of October and
November to protect the vines from the Bost.) After removing the earth,
the fields around the grapevines are dug up to a depth of a foot, and
fertilizer is thrown over the fields. The fertilizer used is calcium
cyanamide and a substance he called "amac silitra" (sic -phonetic)
which he claims is also called Az d. This wor s e by the women. The
men then start to water the hay f~elds and the fruit trees via the irriga-
tion ditches. , ~,
e,
`Q ZC '" .Vt[~ ra ~ e .. A. Wt N+ P v4 ~ u wa 'Yt ~ l v:
8. In March, tractors plow all the fields for cotton, barley, geranium,
and vegetables. The workday begins at 7100 a.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m.
9. From 25 March until 20 April, brigade is busy planting
cotton. At this time, hay, vegetables, and barley are also planted. Cotton
is planted by tractors; barley, onions, and hay are planted by hand. Tractors
are used to broadcast fertilizer -- calcium cyanamide for cotton, super-
phosphate for hay, and superphosphate and Azod for wheat. In March and April,
the cotton fields are handled as follows: Before planting, all the workers,
both men and women, pick up all the roots and brambles to clear the cotton
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~ ~ ~r,=~ctmcrt /
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fields. Then the seeds are planted. After the tractors sow the seeds,
the women follow in the wake and cover all exposed seeds with earth.
10. From the 10th of April on, the cotton fields are watered. During
the growth cycle,. the cotton fields are watered ten times. Approximately
the 25th to the 30th of April, the women begin to weed around the first
growth of cotton. This has to be finished by 5 May. From 5 May to 15 May
is the time for cultivating the cotton plants, which is done in the following
masuiers Each hectare of cotton field has 100 kilograms of seed planted.
These seeds are planted in rows 60 centimeters apart. Each hectare produces
80,000 to 100,000 cotton plants. In a linear distance of 12 to 20 centi-
meters, cotton plants are all pulled out with the exception of two plants.
This is done by hand. Tractors are used to plow a groove of 10 centimeters
between adjoining rows of cotton. After this groove is plowed, women then
follow and hoe up around the plant. From May until September, this process
of plowing the field is repeated four times, and the hoeing by the women
is repeated four times.
ll. Also from the 10th of May until the end of July, the fields are
sprayed by a green spray called in Armenian, Pahenzarchasp (sic- phonetic)
or ka tshee This spray is mixed with Izvi-~~sic- phonetic) and is
c ed bo eaux mixture. It is sprayed on fruit trees and grapevines. ~' "~;' 1`' `~`~~
Polysulfide is also mixed two litters to 100 liters of water, poured into
a tank which can be carried on ack, and then each cotton field is
sprayed four times a year. mentioned a new preparation from the
United States and Germany called erkaptafos. This is a great improvement
over other sprays since with it a Feld needs spraying only once during the
season. This is sprayed by tractors. Another spray that is used for a
small louse-type of insect is nicotine mixed with water. This is sprayed
on cotton, peaches, cucumbers, and watermelons, at least twice a year.
12. After 20 June, wheat and barley are harvested. This is done
with combines and by hand-scythes -- the process taking about 15 days.
When the process is finished, then the area is plowed once again. Hay is
harvested five times ayear -- in May, June, July, August, and September.
13. From 20 July until 5 August, the plants have grown and buds
appear. The ends of the plants or shoots are cut in this period in order
that all the growth be concentrated on the buds. In the months of August
and September, weeding is continued in the cotton field.
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1la. Grapes are harvested from 10 through 25 September, sometimes until
5 October. Qrapes are handpicked by both men and women.
15. Between 25 and 30 September, cotton picking begins on the ~l
ko]lshoz. This cotton is picked until January.
16. From the 10th of Oc bed geraniums are collected. They are used
in making an oil which Bard was used in aircraft engines. The
picking of geraniums takes four or five days.
17. During October and November, the grapevines are again covered
with earth. Cotton is continually picked until January. In January, the
women have little to do. The men also have more time off, but are kept busy
some of the time carting manure to the fields. From 10 to 15 February, the
earth is taken off the grapes and the whole cycle begins again.
Or anization of the Kolkhoz~l~~
_ J~~~
~ruc . ~.oJ ,~ ,CD. ~.~ ~L~Lt.C. o2G~ G w~ls,.,.( Cc ~L:f~~Z~ ~L ~ru ~rt6Gs;Z,
.~.,(.zZl, _ _ i ~3 - - ~a~r,,l~S~1-s' i, ~'k~ 'y`...5'" ~xlc4~o~~ aG ,?~~~f~'u?!
kolkhoz, ~ the bookkeeper
~; and the agrongmist,
netted with the kolkhoz, but riot directly, are the president of the village
soviet, and the secreta~r,~~ of the Party
organization, ~~a~ed that, since all
the key officials in the kolkhoz are Party members, _ e kolkhoz is con-
trolled mainly by the Party organization. 7.he duties of the above-mentioned
key officials are:
a. The president of the kolkhoz is responsible for the administra-
tion and every-day working of the kolkhoz.
b. Although the president of the village soviet is not directly
concerned with the kolkhoz, he is concerned with the workers in the
ko].khoz, since he is responsible for village maintenance, security,
relations with border guards, documentation, and tax collection.
c. Zhe secretary of the Communist Party organization is connected
with the kolkhoz in that he is the official in charge of the local
Communist Party and responsible for agitation by his Party members
to increase the output of the ko]khoz.
246A049200850001-2
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~iW iS ? .a
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d. Zhe agronomist is in charge of maintaining the efficient
cul ~iva"~ti~on ar~d raising of the various crops.
'T{w J7~f.6,la,~-r,_ .ca: _~.n C?.t rt~c~ ~~s_ ~~ 1~u..~rc.- lJ~.z~ ~trx~ryu~tc -mot ~yi Z-~.
~: ~- 7'he -liTigad~ers; nor" ~COlkhoz" fa~emeri; _a~, in` cfi"ar~e` off` the ko~.khoz
workers in the field. At the ~~ kolkhoz they are distributed as
follows:
Area of Re onsibilit
o tton
Number of brigadiers
_~_
Fruit, including grapes 2
Livestock
Construction work 1
Repair of roads ~
Tractors 1
Motor pool 1 ~-_;.
Assistant to president of kolkhoz on the inventory 1
Fuel ~
20. was then asked about the crops of the kplkhoz -- the
prices, productio ,and distribution. He~seemed very knowledgeable, and
there seemed little doubt that he knew the kolkhoz in detail.
He indicated that the main crops of the~~~ kolkhoz are cotton, wheat,
hay, vegetables, geraniums, grapes, and other fruit.
~,
21. ~2-iere are ?39 hectares under cultivation in the ktolkhoz
out of a total of 1,200 hectares, of which the kolkhoz is-Comprised. These
hectares are distributed among the various . rops _ac~rding to a goverrnaent
plan. The following table, according indicates the area under
cultivation for each crop, the governmen~,=,s eist ted goal for production in
195?, the actual production in 1957, the estimated 1958 production, and the
difference between actual production in 1957 and the estimated production
for 1958 .
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Area
1957
Difference
under
Production
195? Production
Cultivation
1957
for each
1958
and
Crop
Hectares
Estimate
Hectare
Estimate
1958 Estimate
~-
Cotton
322
2,?~21
2,050
2,150
+ 100
Wheat
115
2,300
2,600
2,650
+ 50
Hay
120
8,500
lo,oo0
9,000
- l,ooo
Vegetables
30
8,500
8,000
8,000
___
Geraniums
22
8,500
8,000
___
___
Grapes
Fruit (other
60
6,500
5,600
5,000
- 600
than gra~es) 30 8,000 6,000 5,500 - 500
22. mentioned that almost all the crops grown are taken by
the government. a kolkhoz grows five kinds of cotton and the prices range
from four rubles a kilogram for the best to 80 kopeks a kilogram for the
poorest quality. These prices are those that the government pays to the
kolkhoz. Zhe average government price for c_otton_is two_ rubles, 80 kopeks
per kilogram. 7,he cotton is taken away to `~~~~~
23. ~~~
Wheat is sold to the government at 25 kopeks per kilogram. ~e
remaining wheat is kept for seed and for distribution to the kolkhoz w~urkers.
Wheat seeds are the on],y seeds the kolkhoz is allowed to use from its own
crop. Other seeds are bought from the government. Each kolkhoz worker gets
three kilo~ams of wheat for each workday, which is more than ample for his
needs. It is the only commodity of which the worker receives a sufficient
quantity. He sells the excess in order t.o meat his taxes and to have money
to help dress himself. The kolkhoz workers usually make flat bread with
the wheat and sell it for eight rubles a kilogram.
2l~. Grapes are sold to the government according to type. The average
price is three rubles.
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25. Geraniums are harvested for their oil.
produces 600 grams of oil. According to
oil is used in aircraft engines. The gera~ni
the oil being extracted there.
2b. Hay is one of the more productive crops
kolkhoz receives 15 kopeks per kilogram. Part of
the kolkhoz animals d the border guard animals.
is unknown to~~~~M~
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One ton of geraniums
they were told that the
processed in Oktemberyan~
on the kolkhoz. The
the hay crop is used for
The exact distribution
27. The garden vegetables grown on the kolkhoz includes
Item
Selling Price in Kopeks a
Watermelon 25
Tomatoes 25
Pepper 30
Cabbage
Onions
Cucumbers
tt7
25
Kilogram
Any amount produced above the goverrunent plan can be sold for more than
28. The fruit at the kolkhoz are peaches, which are sold for two rubles
a kilogram; apricots, which are sold for 1.20 rubles a kilogram; and apples,
which are sold for 2.20 rubles a kilogram. +~~f~id not know the total
income of the kolkhoz. --'?
29. According tc~'~ the kolkhoz pays the government for the
use of the arable land, for grazing lands, and for the rental of tractors..
Since the abolishment of the M2S, the kolkhoz has purchased the tractors.
The ko7lshoz now has additional expense, previously borne by the MTS,
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namely, for fuel and repairs. Another obligation of the kolkhoz is that
16 to 20 per cent of its total income has been put into a revolving fund;
and now, under the new system, the contribution to this fund has been
increased to 35 per cent of the total income of the kolkhoz. The money may
be used by the kolkhoz for short-term loans for purchases of crop sprays and
other equipment. The mo has to be returned, however, to keep the fund
at a constant level. said that the government is planning to use
this money to make loans to ose kolkhozes which are in need. The kolkhoz
pays for its water and gives meat to the government. A certain amount has
to be given for each hectare of land. In 195? this amount was 15,000 kilo-
grams, the money equivalent of which is two rubles, 50 kopeks per kilogram.
30. After a kolkhoz has met all its obligations, the remainder of the
money is divided into workdays. In 1957 the workday was worth 12 rubles.
In previous years the workdays have been worth the followings In 1949, 21
rubles; from 1950 to 1951, from eight to 10 rubles; in 1954, 13 rubles; in
1955, approximately 10 rubles; in 1956, 9 rubles; and in 1957, 12 rubles.
31. C~indicates that taxes take all the yearly income and that
the workers do not have enough money with which to buy clothing or meat and
fats. }3gsed on 500 workdays a year (a brigadier's pay), these taxes are for
each person as follows (however, they are somewhat less in a forbidden border
zone):
a. 676 rubles for his personal plot of land (576 rubles in
border areas)
b. 32 kilograms meat (28 in border areas)
c. 85 eggs (75 in border areas)
d. 2 rubles for each work day
e. 25 rubles road tax
f. 100 rubles insurance on house
32. Each kolkhoz worker is allowed a maximum of five sheep, one lamb,
and one pig. The tax on these animals is as follows:
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a. For each sheep, 1,800 grams wool
b. For each cow, 1,600 grams cheese and 133 liters milk or
two kilos, 800 grams of butter
33. 71~ie yearly pay scale on the kolkhoz is as follows:
a. The president of the kolkhoz - 10,000 rubles
b. The bookkeeper - 7,000 rubles
c. The agronomist - 7,000 rubles
d. Brigadiers - 3,000 to 5,000 rubles
e. The average kolkhoz worker gets 800 to 1,000 rubles; some
~~ d~ -'- ~C 5 ~a :.,/~~ ~' ar,(~ l~+ s-f.. -:21' ,n[tfi~Za~~ `1r~a~b cx.~'`h~ ~t~c~~Ca/ G lytr~idJ cZ~
~~~r.. icated ?that he new kolkhoz system replacing the old~3
~~~a~
-~`
,
I
_
MTS system is no popular with the rank and file of. the kolkhoz workers. ~ r~ ~~~s" ~~
Under the old system, the kolkhoz rented tractors. The tractor operator ~ ~~~`~~~'~
would get one workday of pay and an additional seven rubles from the kol.khoz
as a premium if he went over his quota. Under the new system, the kolkhoz
has to make a large initial outlay to purchase the tractors, which lowers
the share of the kolkhoz workers. ~~, one tractor, with accessories
cost l~30,000 rubles. As stated before, the kolkhoz will also have to pay for
fuel and spare parts and repairs which, again, will be an additional expense
borne collectively by the field corkers. Tractor drivers are especially
unhappy because they will not receive their premiums.
35. Another factor which is also unpopular with most of the field
workers is that under the new system they will not be able to keep track
of their workdays. Under the new system, an average figure will be arrived
at, and the same amount of workdays will be allotted to all the workers.
Thus, the hard workers will lose money carrying the inefficient and the
shirkers. The kolkhoz workers a7,so feel that their share will be further
reduced with the increased rev`o~v~ig fund which the kolkhoz will have to
maintain i.n the Ciosbank (35 per cent of the gross income instead of the
previous 16-20 per cent).
-,
'3; ci... C ~YthG.~u iu-~6..1,~
,;~ ZTu. .~~-C.~iC2