AGRICULTURE/PLANT DISEASE CONTROL/QUARANTINE/GENETICS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000600050386-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 26, 2011
• Sequence Number: 386
• Publication Date: March 31, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/27: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600050386-9
CLASSIFICATION , CoAFIDEDITtAL
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION,, REPORT
Bulgaria DATE DISTR. 3 1 m AR 64
SUBJECT Agriculture/Plant Disease Control/Quarantine/GeneticdVO. OF PAGES 6 .
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PLACE
ACQUIRED
.'RI.~'1 ..I u ?. R. 1. ?.I1. ? ...1.1111.. . ? .1
I.? 81..1..1 I RR I.R.R. ? ...?11.. .R?1.. I
. 1? R.A1?11 ?. 11 . 1.11. 1
C. In Germany " " N
D. In France
a. In UK
In us
A. In?Ruaania a person similarly engaged
B. In Italy " "
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Bac ound
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 aurope, 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 soil
B. Italy 90 ditto
0. Germany 52 ditto
D. France 48 " ditto
30 ditto
F. us R~ 17 " ditto
In other words, for each person engaged in agriculture in Bulaaria, available
statletics disclose that he is allotted 152 Area 5.756 acre, while in other
countries the following prevails:
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2. Another factor which I deem extremely important in view of the present attempts
of the Communist Government of Bulgaria to engage in industrial endeavor is the
following:
rC
A. It was generally known throughout agrarian circles in Bulgaria prior to
19
1945 rk_ that 68 percent 68 pcerceent cnt of of the e t total population was engaged in agricultural
25X1
-
- -
r
ct in
73. Bulgarian, agriculture up to 1945 provided.produce far beyond the needarof,
the nation. Consequently, an emphasis was placed upon export. The .hcome
export of raw agricultural produce was never sufficient
to satisfy from the
basic financial heeds of'the farming element.
8ealUing that the economy of Bulgaria .was-intricately intermeshed with
her agricultural yield, we concentrated on the eventual establishment of
industries in which" raw. agricultural ?ina:exialscould be manufactured or
developed into either semi-finished or finished products. The ultimate
and sought was the. creation of new sources of national income.
To me, the above has un important connotstion.for when the Soviet economy ,
and Communism prevailed in Bulgaria, a potential source of labor which they,
could utilize in their new forme of planning already existed. The previous
28 percent (or surplus laboring element) was ideally suited to the propa-
gandizing schemes of the'New Order! In other words, this segment of the
population realized full well that under the old Bulgarian economy their
future was very dim. Subsequently (in my estimation) WW group was ready
and willing to accept .economic reform which would provide t*. a new
:Labor outlet. It. is my understanding that the Soviets, that is t e r-
Ian Communists, are now employing these peoples in the development of beaky
-industry -- they are definitely no longer in agricultural fields of work.
Major Food Crops
4. Major food crops produced for domestic consumption in Bulgaria prior to World
War II and up to 1945 were wheat, corn 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 tomatoes, tomato products, strawberries,aad
fruits were grown. The fruit yield was always good and as a consequence
excess yields were turned into various varieties of marmalades and jellies.
Income crops
6. The largest income crop in Bulgaria, perhaps number one in providing national
income, was tobacco. Corn may have been a close second. Attar of roses,
particularly from Blivna Cora, was exported to various parts of the world,
but did not provide as large an income as was generally attributed to this
item. Surprisinsly, Bulg ria, up to 1945, was an exceptionally large
producer of eggs. In fact, at one time one of Bulgaria's Ministers of
C wIAL
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/07/27: CIA-RDP80-00809A000600050386-9
surveys in order to ascertain what. .proportion of the Bt
should be devoted exclu
a"IT ely
re
25X1 of the Bulgarians engaged in ng were actually insuch
stages of employment that the only as surplus labor.
In other words, 28 percent of pulation were unable
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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Agriculture -stated. that '
d Bulgarian aleicul -' tural economy Mould not ignore the
_ u -
.. sa- ?
an
e
niureuWntionea productis.
7. Bulgarian
p
der the?New State- she Gommuniat State7
agricultural- producti H
p
asa
has de-emphasized the growth of previously mentioned crops and vegetables
which in prior years. had been sold"to'Whhtern Europe. It is my thought that.
the curtailment of such production was'"done under the direction of the Soviet
~
Government because some of the pe stable e1d of Bulgaria could not be
exported
of to the Soviet Union r r. Bon .' ]ntl ; the agricultural induptry
now _9547 de odd taulstr~,.