Agriculture after the Second World War

Question 1

Treatment of peasants?

Answer 1

Taxes increased
Ability to sell surplus food for profit removed.
October 1946 - peasants denied food rations

Question 2

Factors that may have contributed to low agricultural production?

Answer 2

Imbalance of sexes - shortage of men.
Shortage of livestock - many women had to pull the ploughs themselves.
1946 - drought
1947 - famine in Ukraine - approx 1 million died.
Archaic methods of farming - not mechanised enough - not efficient enough.

Question 3

Grain production after WW2?

Answer 3

1952 - grain production not just lower than it had been in 1940 but lower than it had been in 1913.

Question 4

Grain exports after WW2?

Answer 4

70% of produce going to cities or exports