Guide to Agricultural Resources and Demographic Characteristics of the Former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics by Oblast

Abstract

With its enormous size and great diversity, the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (FUSSR) is an important player in the world grain and oilseed markets. The lack of data about FUSSR, though, poses some obstacles in understanding the impact on world trade. In this study, researchers gathered unique statistics about FUSSR's crop areas and output. In addition, they developed a methodology to estimate the surplus or deficit of the feed quantity produced for the livestock population by FUSSR's administrative units, or oblasts. The research looked at estimating the size of the FUSSR's demand for imported feedstuffs and its probable sources and transportation routes. It also forecasted what a reformed FUSSR agriculture would look like after changing cropping patterns and applying technology. The report organizes the findings by oblast and republic and details the following information for each oblast: area in square miles; the km of railroad; the km for two types of highways; a distance matrix between the major population centers by road; population statistics; estimated animal feed protein surplus/deficiency; calorie surplus/deficiency, and soybean equivalent to meet the protein requirements; area sown for winter wheat, spring wheat, rye, com for grain, barley, oats, potatoes, flax, sugar beets, and sunflower; and output for winter wheat, spring wheat, rye, corn for grain, barley, oats, eggs, poultry, mutton and goat, pork, beef and veal.