The Virgin Lands Campaign (1954–1963) Until the Breakdown of the Former Soviet Union (FSU): With Special Focus on Western Siberia

Abstract

The goal of the Virgin Lands Campaign under the leadership of Nikita Khrushchev was an increase in the agricultural production rate to alleviate food shortage in the Soviet Union after World War II. The campaign was targeted at converting the vast steppe, mainly in northern Kazakhstan and the Altai Region, into arable land for grain production. During the 10 years of the Virgin Lands Campaign, 420,000-km2 steppe were transformed. The largest area was converted in the Kazakh part of the former Soviet Union. This was globally the largest ecosystem conversion of the temperate grassland in the twentieth century, and it had an important demographic dimension as well, which is reflected in the influx of population. The re-settlers found their home in new settlements, which were also the centres of newly established agricultural businesses. The campaign’s economic success turned out to be very depended on weather conditions—especially on precipitation. The annual crop yield was extremely variable, and the political goals of the campaign were unattainable. At the same time, increasing soil degradation affected the agricultural land use. After Khrushchev’s fall, the new party leaders enforced new land management methods, which addressed the ecological problems, and slowly, yield stability was achieved.