V. I.

Lenin

Draft Directives for the Politbureau of the C.C., R.C.P.(B.) on The Allotment of Lands for Sugar-Beet Cultivation in the Ukraine [1]

Directives of the Politbureau on the allotment of lands in the Ukraine
to the refineries for sugar-beet cultivation and on the compliance of the
peasants on the lands adjoining the sugar refineries with compulsory crop
rotation and fixed norms of culture.

1. This reform is to be carried out with the greatest care,
no single step to be taken without practical verification that the business
of beet cultivation is adequately provided for by a rational system of
farming and by the peasant’s own personal interest in the matter.

2. 400,000 dessiatines to be allotted to the refineries,
this figure to be checked as to whether it is really necessary for ensuring
properly organised large-scale factory farming.

The refineries to be made responsible for all the land allotted to them being rationally cultivated and utilised for the
plants.

3. Compulsory crop rotation to be introduced on the peasant
lands and obligatory norms of culture to be applied to them only in those cases where beet crops have long been cultivated on
these lands.

4. Strict care should be taken that the relations between
the sugar refineries and the beet-cultivating peasants are based on a
really voluntary agreement within the limits of an obligatory fixed
beet-sowing area.

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Notes:
[1]
Lenin’s draft directives were adopted by the Politbureau on October 10,
1921, following the report of C. G. Rakovsky, V. Y. Chubar and
G. I. Petrovsky. “On this question a general orientation was given,”
stated the C.C. Report for October November 1921, “in the sense of a more
careful and attentive attitude being shown towards the needs of the
peasants and securing their co-operation with the state” ( Izvestia of the Central >Committee, R.C.P.(B.) No. 36 for December 15, 1921).