V. I.

Lenin

444

To:   G. M. KRZHIZHANOVSKY

Copy to Comrade Osinsky, copy to Comrade Avanesov for all C.L.D. members, circulate for all to read and sign upon reading

17/X.1921

Comrade Krzhizhanovsky:

I draw your attention to Comrade Rakovsky’s article, “The Famine and Maize”, in Pravda No. 231 (14.X.1921).

In the light of this article, I feel sure that the conclusion
of the State Planning Commission’s agricultural section
on maize (of 13.IX.1921, signed by Comrade Sereda) is inadequate.

The advantages of maize (and beans) appear to be proven
in several respects. Since this is so, faster and more vigorous measures should be taken. Of especial importance is the fact that the seed requirement is between one-tenth and
one-fifteenth of the normal quantity.

This appears to be the crucial consideration.

It should be decided right away that the total quantity
of maize required for the full sowing of all the spring area
throughout the Volga region should be purchased in good
time for the sowing in the spring of 1922.

To attain this aim, this should be paralleled by:

1) elaboration of very precise and very circumstantially
considered measures for the propaganda of maize and the
teaching of peasants to grow maize with the meagre resources now available;

2) urgent discussion of whether practical ways and means
can be found to make maize a part of the people’s diet ,
under the existing conditions in peasant farming, their habits and way of life (cf. page 35, the State Planning
Commission’s memo).

I request an immediate discussion of these questions in
the agricultural section and the presidium, making sure to
collect every shade of opinion on maize.

Report to the C.L.D. on Friday, 21.X.1921. [1]

V. Ulyanov (Lenin )

Chairman, C.L.D.

---
Notes:
[1]
The Gosplan (State Planning Commission) report on the raising of
maize was on the C.L.D. agenda for October 21, 1921, but was
put off in order to have the People’s Commissariat for
Agriculture also take part in deciding this question, in connection with
the letter of October 17 from Deputy People’s Commissar for
Agriculture, N. Osinsky, who objected to the Gosplan’s agricultural section submitting such important farming questions to
the C.L.D. on its own (see also this volume, Document 447).