The Battle For Grain 1925 Flashcards
BM’s plans for war and colonial expansion made it necessary…
For him to place the Italian economy on an equal footing.
What did BM have in the back of his mind?
Germany was partly defeated in WW1 due to the failure of her economy to adequately maintain her war effort.
So BM was determined for Italy to achieve autarky, by being more self sufficient and less dependent on foreign imports.
To achieve autarky in the production of grain would achieve 2 aims
1) the imposition of higher tariffs on grain would reduce the amount of grain imported and so help reduce Italy’s balance of payments deficit.
2) more importantly, it would ensure an adequate supply of food in the event of war.
What did the regime provide to assist hard pressured farmers?
Grants to buy machinery and fertiliser
How did BM add to his prestige?
Worked alongside the workers with his shirt off- PHWOAR
What did the govt impose to discourage wheat’s import?
High tariffs were imposed on imported grain
Wheat imports fell by 75%- what did this do to the price of flour?
It increased
Led to a decline in diet
Aims
- to boost cereal production to make Italy self sufficient in grain
- to reduce the balance of trade deficit
- to free Italy “from the slavery of foreign bread”
- to make Italy less dependent on imports when war came
- to show Italy as a major power
When was the battle announced?
1925
Actions
- battle announced in 1925; HIGH TARIFFS put on imported grain
- new MARGINAL lands used (land that was CHER to farm)
- Govt grants to farmers to buy machinery and fertilisers
How much did cereal production increase, and what was this at the expense of?
It DOUBLED from 1922-39 (But fell during war as imported fertilisers were reduced)
At the expense of other forms of agriculture- arable farming, olives, vines
How much did wheat imports fall by between 1925-35?
75%
By 1940 Italy became almost…
Self sufficient in cereals but not fertilisers
Protection benefitted…
Italian farmers, especially inefficient S landowners
