ALBANIAN DECREE ON SPRING PLANTING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700100423-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 24, 2011
• Sequence Number: 423
• Publication Date: February 6, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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FDA
FILE
cap
INFORMATION FROM
COUNTRY Albania DATE OF
SUBJECT Economic - Agriculture, spring planting INFORMATION 1952
HOW CCMiRAL tHiEh" DATE DIST. Feb 1953
PUBLISHED Daily newspape CIAIFiCAi10N C '
WHERE Canrvll;i it777
PUBLISHED Tirana ('h,l,"ed to o V N. OF PAGES
i 7....
DATE by
.PUBLISHED 10 Feb 1952
SUPPLEMENT TO
EPORT NO.
ALBANIAN DECREE ON SPRING PLANTING
The Council of Ministers of the Albanian People's Republic and the
Central Committee of the Albanian Workers' Party have examined the results
of 1951 fall planting and the state of preparations for the spring sowing of
1952 and have established that: (1) the fall' planting plan for the republic
as a whole was completed 101 percent for grains and 106.2 percent for fruit
trees and (c) the quality of work was much better than during the 1950 fall
planting,
The rreths of Peshkopi, Beret, Tirana, Burrel, and Rreshen, among others,
fulfilled and surpassed the plan for the principal crops. The Clirimi State
Farm at Fier and the 29 Nentori State Farm at Lushnje, and state farms in gen-
eral have completed the plan on schedule. They have used advanced agronomic
methods, selected seeds, and efficient fertilization. They have employed ad-
vanced Soviet methods, such as the sowing of land to obtain selected seed, the
use of granular fertilizer, and the cross-planting of wheat.
Collective farms fulfilled the fall planting plan
-104 percent. The col-
lective farms at Rembec, Korce Rreth, Fier i RI, Lushnje Rreth,.and Maminaa,
Durres Rreth. distinguished themselves by their efficient work organization,
their quick and high-quality planting, and their use of Soviet methods.
The national conference, of Stakhanovites and. outstanding farmers proved
that it was possible to increese agricultural yields by employing advanced
agronomic methods based on Soviet methods.
For example, the Clirimi State Farm at Fier obtained a yield of 15 quintals
of cotton per heetsre on 20 hectares,'the 8 Nentori State Farm at Sukth a yield
of 18 quintals of cotton per hectare on 5 hectares, and the Maliq, Force Rreth,
State Farm 493 quintals of beets per hectare on.31 hectares and 25.2 quintals of
wlieet per hectare, on 193 hectares. The Rembec coll'ecUve farm obtained a yield
of.18 quintals of wheat per hectare and 23.2 gaintal's of barley per hectare.
The leading team of the Vishocice, Korce.Rreth, collective farm obtained a yield
of 900 quintals of beets per hectare on one hectare. The following outstanding
CLASSIFICATION
STATE , NAVY NSRB
ARMY AIR II FBI L
run urtIUTAL USE ONLY
DISTRIBUTION I -
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farmers obtained high yields: Ferik Dashi Fier Rreth, 14.54 quintals of cot-
ton per hectare on one hectare; Iasi Liko Lusbnje Rreth 16.6 quintals of cot-
ton beets~e on 1.5 hectares; and Xhafer Cipi,Korce Rreth, 240 quintals of
sugar per hectare on 1.7 hectares.
However, the Council of Ministers and the Central Committee of the Al-
banian Workers' Party have noted the following shortcomings in the 1951 fall
planting:
State and party agencies in the rreths and communities did not furnish
the necessary continuous guidance for this campaign. In particular] they did
not carry on effective political and organizational work to mobilize all the
forces in villages to organize collective work and socialist competition.
Consequently, the plan for planting the principal crops was not fully realized
and was poorly carried or; in some rreths.
The fall sowing was slow and was not completed on schedule. In Lushnje,
Fier, Durres, Vlore, and other rreth5 the necessary measures were not taken
to see that planting regulations were followed. In cooperative and private
holdings sufficient attention was not paid to deep-plowing, which is essential
in preparing for spring planting.
The MPS were inefficient in organizing their work. They did not repair
the tractors well or promptly. As a result of negligent repairs and poor
maintenance, tractors and other machinery developed defects while in opera-
tion. Hence, the MTS did not fulfill their contracts or the plan. The weakest
MPS were those at Beret, Elbasan, Vlore, and Fier.
State farms failed to repair tractors and machinery on schedule or to or-
ganize their work properly. Consequently, beside being late, they fulfilled
the sowing plan only 95.9 percent. The farm management gave the state farms'
little assistance in the campaign,
Insufficient measures were taken by the government agencies and party or-
ganizations to combat the harmful red cotton worm (pectinophora Cossi piella).
Not enough attention was paid to the distribution of young fruit trees
for planting in many districts, including Lezhe. Erseke, Gramsh, Tepelene, to*
permit fulfilling the fall planting plan 100 percent.
Full use was not made of elate assistance through farm credits to collec-
tive farms and individual holdings because of the weakness of state organiza-
tions in making the proper allotments of credit due to the insufficient efforts
of primary party organizations to explain to poor peasants the advantages of
such assistance.
The pla.ntii.g of vegetables to supply the needs of cities and industrial
centers did not receive due c-.re and attention. Hence, the plan %r vegetable
planting was not fulfilled on individual holdings or in economic enterprises.
Proper attention was not paid to mass dissemination of advanced agricul-
tural information on the methods of the best farm workers or on Soviet farming
thuds. The farm press and the central press organs did not sufficiently ex=
Plain the importance of this problem in the fall sowing.
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Considering the importance of the spring sowing in assuring bread for
the people and supplying industry with raw materials, especially cotton, sugar
beets, and tobacco, and the shortcomings discovered in the fall sowing, the
Council of Ministers and the Central Committee of the Albanian Workers' Party,
decrees t'.at:
1. The executive committees must re-examine, by 15 February 1952, the
fulfillment of the fall sowing plan and must 'take steps to insure that the col-
lective farms and private holdings supply any deficiencies in the fall sowing.
Areas not already planted in wheat and rye must be planted, depending upon
conditions, with spring wheat, corn, and rice. Arable areas not planted dur-
ing the fall planting must be planted in spring crops priority being given,
where the soil is suitable, to industrial crops. Shortages in the fall plant-
ing of alfalfa must be made up by exceeding the plan for the spring planting
of alfalfa.
2. To increase the reserves of raw materials for the Stalin Textile Com-
bine and for the 8 Neatori Sugar Combine, the area approved in the plan for
cotton and beet planting muvt'be increased in various rreths in the amounts
specified in the annex ,ot reproduced herein to this decision.
The Planning Commission, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the executive
committees in the rreths must effect the necessary changes in the plan approved
for 1952. The executive committees mist complete the apportionment of the ad-
ditional above-mentionen areas and conclude all contracts with the agencies
concerned by 20 February 1952.
In connection with securing and distributing seed the following mea-
sures must be taken:
a: As soon as possible the agricultural economists must prepare the
seed for the spring sowing of corn, beans, ani garden vegetables. Alfalfa
seed must be withdrawn ffrom the warehouse not later than 15 March and to-
bacco planting must be completed by 1 March.
b. The agencies of the Ministry of Industry must turn over to the
branches of the NSHFF9 Rate Farm Seed Enterprise] the quantity of cottonseed
specified in the plan by 15 March 1952.
c. Seed are to be withdrawn by private holdings and collective farms
art follows: for two-rowed barley and flax by 25 February 1952; for sugar
beets, melons, and sunflowers by 10 March 1952; and for cotton and castor beans
by 5 April 1952.
4. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Albanian State Bank must obtain
the approval of the government by 10 February and notify the rreths of the farm
credit terms by 20 February. By 1 March 1952, the executive committees must
complete allotment of credits to each locality. The localities must make allot.
ments to each village by 10 March 1952. Government agencies and party organiza.
tions must try to fulfill the credit distribution plan on time.
5. Individual holdings must employ every means possible to secure the ne-
cessary tools, plows, harrows, and cultivators for the spring planting. They
must take all necessary measures to secure the herness and fodder for draft
animals. The branches of the NSHFFB must provide rapid distribution of seed,
chemical fertilizers, and farm tools.
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6, To secure a high yield the greatest effort .moat, be made to
apply advanced methods in preparing the ground and in planting, cultivating,
and harvesting the crops. To this end:
a. The fields must be cleared of stubble to prevent damage by dis-
ease and harmful insects. The fields must be fertilized after proper pre-
paratory work in all individual holdings and collective farms where this work
has not been completed. The moisture and texture of the ground which was
worked
cults atorior plthe fall ow and using a should preserved by working it with a
b. All the necessary material means are to be secured and all or-
ganizational measures taken for strict observation of the time limits set by
the regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture for spring planting of cotton,
from 10 April to 15 May 1952; of sugar beets, from 15 March to 15 April 1952;
of tobacco, from 20 April to 20 May 1952. Planting in the shortest possible
time is necessary to preserve the winter moisture. Industrial crops and rice
must be planted on collective property or on blocks of private holdings. Ir-
rigated land is to be used primarily for cotton.
The above crops are to be planted on other than collective property only
after research by the agricultural sections and a decision rendered by the
rreth executive committee of the Workers' Party.
c. Spring crops, especially cotton and sugar beets, must be planted
in rows so that they can be worked by a cultivator. seeders'
For this purpose maximum
use must be made of the seedersof the KVS, and collective farms. If
are lacking, a plow must be used, leaving the necessary distance between rows,
d. State Farms, collective farms, and individual holdings must take
special care to organize their work so that all the operations, such as the
thinning or addition of young plants, and especially, the cultivating may be
well done and so that all the available manpower may be used,
e. Irrigation canals must be used to full capacity. All possible
measures must be taken to open as many small canals as possible and to make
intelligent use and proper distribution of the water, supplying irrigation
water primarily to land planted in cotton, sugar beets, and rice. By 15 May,
the executive committees must make an Inspection of the motor pumps in each
rreth? BY 30 April, the Ministry of Agriculture must complete the system of
irrigation canals and open secondary and tertiary canals in the whole area
watered by national canals. Furthermore, detailed instructions must be given
by 30 March on the time and means of irrigating the chief crops.
f. On the basis of instructions to be issued by the 14inictry of Agz.i-
cultur., the executive commi.ttees will prepare a concrete plan for agricultural
courses on spring planting. The party and mass organizations must cee that
there is as large an attendance as possible at these courses,
7. To secure select seed, all the necessary measures specified in the
directives of the Ministry of Agriculture must be taken for the fields set
a.,ide for the production of seed. As much of the best alfalfa-growing land
a-; possible must be set aside for the production of alfalfa seed.
8. The s of the Ministri
es of tore shall exercise continuous supervision overuindividual holdings ~ and dgll farms to make certain that they comply with the terms of their collec-
tive c ntracte,
from the time the land is first worked until the industrial crops are harvested
and delivered. The agencies shall see that all deficiencies noted in 1951 are
eliminated.
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9. The hoeing of the grain crops, especially wheat, must be so organized
that it can be completed by 30 April. Waxen's organizations can give special
help in accomplishing this.
10. The rreth executive committees shall take the necessesy measures tc
assure fulfillment of the plan for the planting of fruit, olive, and citrus
trees, and shall organize the grafting of wild olive, wild pear, and other
fruit trees. In national and local nurseries, the transplanting of young
trees shall be completed by 31 March 1952 and the planting of 2-year-old olive,
fig, and mulberry trees by 15 April 1952.
11. The areas planted in vegetables must be increased on individual hold-
ings and collective farms and also o1 the state farms and farms connected with
state enterprises.
To achieve better organization of the work during planting, the Council of
Ministers and the Central Committee of the Albanian Workers' Party impose the
following special duties:
1. The repair of tractors and their accessories shall be completed in
good order and by the dates assigned, in accordance with the directives of the
Ministry of Agriculture. Furthermore, the necessary quantities of seed must be
.procured by 1 March 1952. They must be cleaned and tested for germination.
2. Farmers must adhere strictly to the plan for agronomic measures laid
down by the Ministry of Agriculture, including the selection of seeds, check
rov planting, the Soviet method of planting cotton, artificial fertilization,
and the summer planting of potatoes. All state faros must do their spring
planting by machine and their hoeing with a cultivator on not less than 75 per-
cent of the area under cultivation.
3. Rfficient use shall be made of organic and chemical fertilizers.
4. To secure the production of selected seeds, the most advanced agri-
cultural measures must be employed on land set aside for this purpose.
5. The planned number of plants Lust be secured and all specified cul-
tivation work carried out in olive groves, orchards, and vineyards.
6. Reorganization based on Soviet e~merience will be enforced; various
types of brigades must be formed, depending upon equipment and the nature of
the land. Courses must be organized to train brigades and resnonaible teams.
7. Primary party organizations and mass organizations in enterprises
must increase their political work among the workers, develop socialist com-
petition, and organize publicity for outstanding workers. Communist Party mem-
bers, by the personal exariple, must be in the forefront of the campaign to ful-
fill and exceed the planting plan.
1. The directors, the party and mass organ_zations, and all .workers at
the MPS shall. take all necessary measures to repair and maintain the machinery,
to perform all technical services, and to reinforce labor discipline. Ail MPS.
shall complete repairs on tractors and their parts on schedule and repair their,
harvest machinery and stationary motors by 15 May 1952. All machines must be
tested before operation.
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STAT
2. Contracts relating to the spring planting must be executed in detail.
Work under these contracts must be done on schedule and must be of good quality.
Repeated cultivation and harrowing are required. Special attention must be'
given to the planting and weeding of cottc and sugar beets on collective farms
and on individual holdings.
3. To insure maximum utilization of the tractors, the state agencies,
party organizations, and MIS themselves must strive to eliminate .tences,,es-
pecialy on areas which are to be planted in cotton or sugar beets.
4. All Party and mass organizations, as well as workers, must make every
effort to keep the machinery in good repair, to economize on fuel, and to in-
crease labor productivity. The directors of the MIS must see that the tractors
are regularly supplied with the necessary fuel.
On Collective Farms
1.. By 20 February 1952, the managers of collective farms must have a
plan drawn up for operational measures for the spring planting, and by 29 Feb-
ruary this plan is to be presented and approved in the general meetings of
the collective farms.
be completed, 2. By 25 February, the repair of agricultural tools and machinery must
fodder reserves for the draft animals secured, and measures
taken to procure, clean, and disinfect the necessary seed.
3. The organization of brigades must be encouraged and full participa-
tion of collectivists, including women, secured.
4,. Agricultural cooperatives must follow the example of the Vishocice
and Rembec (Korce) agricultural cooperatives in forming high-efficiency squads,
especially for raising cotton, sugar beets, and corn.
To influence the development of the campaign and take swift measures to
eliminate shortcomings, the people's ccuncils and the primary organizations in
villages must analyzo the stst,e of the campaign at least once a week, the peo-
ple's couucils of localities once every 10 days, and the rreth executive commit-
tee once every 15 days.
The Ministry of Agriculture and the executive committees shall organize
a regular system of record keeping.
The Ministry of Agriculture and the Director of Agriculture of the Central
Committee of the Albanian Workers' Party shall issue directives for implementa-
tion of this decree, shall supervise and give continuous assistance to the
agencies under them in meetii,g their obligations, and shall report to the Chair-
man of the Council of Ministers and the Central Committee of the Albanian
Workers' Party, respectively, once in every 2 weeks, on the progress of the
program.
The state authorities and party and primary organizations in each rreth
shall study the availability of manpower and equipment in the rreth and vil-
lages and take concrete measures to achieve complete utilization of these
resources by organizing collective work and reciprocal aid on a voluntary basis.
They shall also assist r,.rilies which lack. manpower and equipment.
In this campaign, Soviet methxls are to be employed on the widest possible
scale, including check row planting of corn, the Soviet method of planting cot-
ton, selection of seed, and artificial pollination.
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Party organizations, trade-union commiittees, and other mass organizations
shall organize propaganda for socialist competition in enterprises, collective
farms, and villag??a, and publish the results during the campaign.
The central press and the farm press shall follow closely the development
of the campaign and publish the successes and the names of outstanding men in
agiculture. They shall also introduce Soviet agricultural meth
scale. Oda on a large
The Ministry of Industry and the Ministry of Transport shall instruct
their offices to help the MPS by giving them priority in acquiring spare parts
and In getting machinery repaired when the MfS cannot themselves acquire such
parts.
The Ministry of Transport shall instruct transportation agencies to give
absolute priority on trains, busses, and other means of transportation to
persons assigned duties by the Ministry of Agriculture in connection with the
planting campaign.
The following organizational measures shall be taken to execute the pro-:
visions of this decision: oint
meeting
part committeeashall,be he d by 15 February 1952 comittee bureau and the executive
b. This decision and the decision of the executive committee and of
the party committee on spring planting shall be put into effect by the economic
activists by 20 February 1952.
c. This decision is to be put into effect by 29 February 1952 in pri-
mary Party organizations in villages, collective farms, MTS, and state agricul-
tural enterprises. It shall be read before labor collectives, general village
meetit.gs, and in collective farms assemblies.
d. The certral agencies of the Democratic Front, he BRPSh (union
of A,tan_an Working youth), Central Cors1ttee of tae Albaniatn Workers' Party
and the Union t Albarian Women, shall issue directives to their agencies on
their duties by 15 February 1952.
Because of the extreme dryness of the country during the summer and the
vital importance of moisture to a high yield of spring crops, the`Council of
Ministers an the Ceutral Committee of the Albanian Workers' Party appeal to
the workers of the state farms, the members of the collective farms, and all
farm workers to finish planting on schedule, if not earlier, while the ground
is moist, so that the spring crops rill get the maximum benefit from the vin
ter moisture.
The party and mass organizations must develop extensive political, culturel,
and as ts':ic activity to publicize this cecree and., while fighting the kulaka
mobi;.ize th,, agricultural workers for the fulfillment and overfulfillment of the
spring planting plan. Communists, activists is the mass or?ax.izaticns, and
members of the people's councils must set an example in the employment of ad-
vanced agricultural methods in planting and cultivating crops.
Council of Ministers, Albanian People's Republic
The Central Committee, Albanian Workers' Pasty
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