Structural reforms in agricultural production and foreign food trade: the Ukrainian experience 1950-1960's

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problem of revealing peculiarities of mutual influence and interdependence of changes in the economic structure of Ukraine and its participation in international economic relations at different stages of historical development. The purpose of the study is to summarize the historical and economic generalization of the experience of structural transformation in domestic agriculture from 1950 to 1960 in the context of foreign trade in food. It was revealed that the political need to resume bread exports after World War II was an important reason for the beginning of the reform of Soviet crisis-hit agriculture. The main directions of reforms are identified, such as the increase of public investments in the development of agrarian industry, reduction of taxes on producers, increase in state procurement prices for agricultural products, expansion of the acreage through the development of virgin lands, sharp increase in corn output, and advanced development of animal husbandry. It was found that the reduction of administrative pressure on producers, their increased material incentives and improvement of technical support of the enterprises caused a temporary economic recovery in the agrarian sector. It is proved that the curtailment of this policy due to the lack of domestic sources of financing and the predominance of extensive forms of management led to a slowdown in the development of agriculture, an increase in its crisis phenomena and the formation of dependence on food imports. Proposals are made on possible directions of using elements of historical experience gained in contemporary economic policy of Ukraine.