Development of Farming in Mongolia in the 20th Century

About the authors:

Alexander E. Karnachyov, Cand. Sci. (Hist.), Associate Professor, Department of History, Buryat State Academy of Agriculture named after V. R. Philippov; karnachyov@yandex.ru

Davaajav Bayartogtokh, Postgraduate Student, Department of History, Buryat State Academy of Agriculture named after V. R. Philippov; karnachyov@yandex.ru

Abstract:

This article discusses the contribution of the Soviet Union and Soviet specialists into the development of agriculture and virgin lands in Mongolia.

The article is essential, since it deals with the period when the state agrarian sector was ruined after 1991 and the property of the state owned farms was transferred to the private owners. As a result, the country was not able to provide itself with bread and vegetables. The best practices of socialism times when the country could provide itself completely with the agrarian products within a short period of time should be studied thoroughly.

The authors examine the problem of agrarian reform in Mongolia, its role in the development of agriculture and the establishment of state-owned farms. The article analyzes the role of the Soviet agricultural expeditions, that included agrarian and soil, hydrological, botanical groups, investigating the preconditions, conditions and the scientific basis for the development of agriculture in Mongolia.

The authors examine the role and importance of the Mongolian Commission of the USSR Academy of Sciences and the activities of the Cabinet of the Mongolian Agriculture Sciences Committee under the leadership of V. F. Shubin. It also analyzes the activities of the first experimental station in Mongolia created for the introduction of new crops, the development of tobacco, sugar beet, sunflower and other crops.

The method of statistics analysis, retrospective and comparative methods were used during the research.

The authors show the importance of financial and economic assistance of the Soviet Union in the development of virgin lands of Mongolia, underline the scale of the activity of Soviet specialists, particularly in the preparation of personnel for the Mongolian agriculture. The role and importance of the Council of Ministers of the Mongolian People’s Republic according to which Mongolian workers were assigned to the invited specialists from the Soviet Union. The activity of Soviet specialists is more fully covered on the example of the history and development of horticulture in Mongolia. The contribution of the Soviet scientists, researchers, agronomists and mechanics into the economic and cultural development of Mongolia is analyzed.

References:

1. Bespalov N. D. 1951. Pochvy MNR [Soils of Mongolia]. Moscow: AN USSR.
2. Golykh A. V. 1997. “Sovetsko-Mongol’skoe sotrudnichestvo v osvoenii tselinnykh zemel’ i razvitii zemledeliya v MNR (1959-1985 gg.)” [Soviet-Mongolian Collaboration in Reclamation of Virgin Lands and the Development of Farming in Mongolia Peoples Republic (1959-1985)]. Cand. Sci. (Hist.) diss. abstract. Ulan-Ude: Buryat State University.
3. Dorjsambuu D. 1964. Ar mongoloos Manzh chin ulsad zalguulzh baysan alba [External Mongolia’s Duties Assignment to Manchuu Empire of Qing]. Ulan-Bator: Academy of Sciences.
4. Iakinof. 1828. Zapiski o Mongolii [Notes about Mongolia], vol. 1, part 2. St. Petersburg: Printing house of Karl Kray.
5. Institute of Eastern studies AN USSR. 1986. Mongolia Peoples Republic. Moscow: Nauka.
6. Central Archives of the Mongolian Revolutionary Party. Fund 4, Inventory list 23, unit 358.
7. Central Archives of the Mongolian Revolutionary Party. Fund 4, Inventory list 26, unit 141.
8. Central Archives of the Mongolian Revolutionary Party. Fund 4, Inventory list 26, unit 148.
9. Central Archives of the Mongolian Revolutionary Party. Fund 4, Inventory list 28, unit 133.
10. National Archives of Mongolia. Fund 15, Inventory list 3, Unit 310.
11. Sogoo-Noor. 2008. Mongol ulsyn shinzhlekh ukhaan. Gazar tarialangiyn ukhaan [Mongolian Research. Agriculture]. Ulan-Bator: Sogoo-Noor.
12. Printing house of Ryabushinskiy P. P. 1912. Moskovskaya torgovaya ekspeditsiya v Mongoliyu [Moscow Trade Expedition to Mongolia]. Moscow: Printing house of Ryabushinskiy P. P.
13. Roshin S. K. 1971. Sel‘skoe khozyaystvo MNR na sotsialisticheskom puti AN SSSR. Institut Vostokovedeniya [Agriculture of Mongolia on the Socialism Path AN USSR. Institute of Eastern Studies]. Moscow: Nauka.
14. International relations. 1979. Sovetsko-Mongol’skie otnosheniya 1921-1972. Dokumenty i materialy [Soviet-Mongolian collaboration 1921-1972. Documents], vol. 2, part 2. Moscow: International relations.
15. Munkhiyn useg group. 2013. UGTEShKh Tuukhiyn zhimeer [Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing. Along the Path of History]. Darkhan: Munkhiyn useg group.
16. Munkhiyn useg group. 2008. Urgamal gazar tarialangiyn surgalt erdem shinzhilgeeniy khureelengiyn tuukhen zamnal 45 zhil [45 Years of the Historical Development of the Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing]. Darkhan: Munkhiyn useg group.
17. Chernoyarova F. F. 1985. Prirodno-territorial’nye usloviya i effektivnost’ ispol’zovaniya zemel’ v MNR [Natural and Territorial Settings and Efficiency of the Lands Exploitation in Mongolia Peoples Republic]. Irkutsk: Irkutsk state university named after F. F. Zhdanov.
18. Institute of History of the Academy of Sciences. 1966. Tuukhiyn khureelen BNMAU tuukh III bot’ [History of Mongolia], vol. 3. Ulan Bator: State publishing house.
19. Shubin V. F. 1953. Zemledelie MNR [Farming of Mongolia]. Moscow: AN USSR.
20. Shulzhenko I. F. 1954. Zhivotnovodstvo MNR [Cattle Breeding in Mongolia Peoples Republic]. Moscow: AN USSR.