Environmental consequences of Khrushchev’s Virgin Land Campaign in Kazakhstan (1950s–1960s)

Abstract

This paper discusses issues related to environmental problems that arose as a result of the virgin and fallow lands development in Kazakhstan in the second half of the twentieth century. The authors emphasize that the level of agricultural production in the post-war years failed to meet the needs of Soviet citizens. Under these conditions, the massive plowing of land had to solve a whole range of tasks, first of all, to solve the problem of food hunger by means of a huge increase in the area for sowing grain crops. According to the authors, solid tracts of plowed soil, having a dark color, became very hot, provoking drought, which, with chronic manifestation, caused aridization of the entire steppe zone, causing significant drying up of rivers and lakes. The authors believe that large works on the virgin lands development have made serious changes in the nature of the region. Stocks of valuable hunting and game species of animals were undermined, and in some places completely destroyed. Taking advantage of the lack of control, the new settlers along with the local residents, mercilessly consumed the gifts of the environment, which gave rise to massive poaching. The methodological basis of the study was the complex use of various approaches, methods and assessments used in interdisciplinary research.

Climate change: Comparing “green” and “polluting” nation-states

“…First of all, Stalin inaugurated an era of technocratic euphoria where the environment was either an enemy or a resource to exploit, a concept very much in line with Resource Nationalism. The situation remained unaltered under Khrushchev (Mazhitova et al, 2021). Most importantly, Soviet authorities saw all independent organizations, including environmental ones, as potentially treacherous organizations hatching anti-Soviet ideals and/or bearers of national separatism.…”

Cultivation of fodder beans at the Zarechny state farm during the development of virgin lands in Kazakhstan

“…See table 2 [2]. In 1956, compared with 1953, the sowing of annual grasses and corn for green top dressing increased by 9.3 million hectares, or more than 2 times [18].…”

“…With this method of collection and threshing, the movement of the combine took place in the lowest gear. The harvester is constantly shrouded in earth dust and it is difficult for the combine operator to breathe dusty air and specially to monitor the work of the pick-up through the glass of The harvester output per daylight hours not exceed 6-7 ha, which were taken as the basis for the calculated output rate [18].…”

Methods of growing high grain yields in Northern Kazakhstan during the years of virgin lands development (the case of the Zarechny state farm)

“…in one litter of grain, then by the end of harvesting it decreased to 730 gr., which was 10% of biological losses on the specific gravity of the grain. The swaths were poorly picked up by the rain, which also resulted in significant losses [22].…”