INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 05,2025
Journal:
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page 112
HISTORY OF NEW LAND DEVELOPMENT IN SOVIET TIMES
Batirova Barno Nabiyevna
Andijan state medical institute
Anotation:
This article analyzes the historical stages, social and environmental consequences
of the new land development policy implemented during the Soviet Union. Particularly
detailed is how this policy, which began in 1954, was implemented in Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan and other regions. During the study, analytical approaches were used based on
historical documents, statistics and modern scientific sources. The article highlights the short-
term achievements and long-term negative consequences of new land development policies,
showing aspects that today can serve as lessons for Agrarian Policy.
Keywords:
Soviet Union, New Land Development, Nikita Khrushchev, Kazakhstan,
Uzbekistan, desert regions, farming, environmental consequences, Island tragedy, historical
analysis.
Introduction
In the mid-20th century, the Soviet Union launched a comprehensive campaign to develop
new lands in an effort to strengthen its economic policies and meet the population's need for
food. This policy intensified, especially under Nikita Khrushchev, who came to power after
Joseph Stalin in 1953. The western and central regions of the Soviet Union had limited grain
production opportunities, prompting the government to appropriate new, previously unused
land for farming.
The main objective of the campaign was to establish a large amount of farming on unused
desert, steppe and semi – desert lands, especially by growing wheat to ensure the food
independence of the Soviet Union. Millions of hectares of land were driven out in
Kazakhstan, Siberia, Central Asia (including Uzbekistan) and other regions. While the
process was historically, socially, economically, and ecologically complex, it became one of
the milestones of Soviet history.
Method
This scientific article is written on the basis of historical analysis and alternative sources. The
following methods were used in the preparation of the article:
- Historical-analytical approach-the reasons for the origin of the campaign, the stages of
implementation and the final consequences were studied.
- Compiled analysis-various historical documents, scientific articles, statistics and modern
research were studied.
- Alternative approach-with official Soviet historians, the approaches of modern historians
were compared.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 05,2025
Journal:
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page 113
- Regional analysis-on the example of the regions of Kazakhstan, Russia and Uzbekistan, the
policy of assimilation was analyzed.
As sources of research, official Soviet statistics dating back to 1954-1965, documents of the
Central Archive of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the work of academics and modern historical
articles were the basis.
Results
1. Beginning of the New Lands Campaign (1954:
The "new land appropriation" campaign, officially launched in 1954, was promoted
nationally by the Soviet government. Over 40 million hectares were appropriated between
1954 and 1960. The bulk of the land was in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Soviet
government promoted the campaign as “socialist heroism”.
2. Kazakhstan experiment:
Kazakhstan has become the main center of new lands. In the northern regions of Kazakhstan
(Akmola, Pavlodar, Kustanay), millions of hectares of land were appropriated. Agricultural
machinery, combines, tractors, and other tools were sent to these areas. Thousands of workers
and young people from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus were also sent as volunteers. Tens of
thousands of young people were mobilized for work as part of the" Komsol campaign".
3. Land development in Uzbekistan:
In Uzbekistan, land was acquired mainly along the steppe regions – Kyzylkum, Mirzachol
and Zarafshan Valley. Irrigation systems were built and the land was adapted for farming.
This process increased Republican agricultural production, but several environmental
problems also occurred (salinity, land degradation).
4. Demographic and social changes:
As a result of this policy, several million residents were resettled in regions where new land
was located. Barracks, schools, hospitals, houses of culture were built for them. But living
conditions were harsh, and climatic conditions were harsh. While many young people came
in an idealistic spirit, there were also cases of backwardness that soon became dissatisfied
with the circumstances.
5. Environmental consequences:
A large part of the acquired land was not adapted to natural resources. Due to improper
irrigation, salinity increased, and the water flowing into the insular sea decreased, which
eventually led to environmental tragedies. These negative consequences remain a pressing
problem for the region to this day.
Discussion
While the new land appropriation policy served to raise Soviet agriculture in the short term,
there were more negative aspects in terms of long-term consequences. In the implementation
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
ISSN: 2692-5206, Impact Factor: 12,23
American Academic publishers, volume 05, issue 05,2025
Journal:
https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai
page 114
of this policy, the centralized and strict command policy of the Soviet government became a
priority. The natural, ecological and economic characteristics of the regions were not
sufficiently taken into account.
Meanwhile, there are discrepancies between Soviet historians who evaluate this campaign as
a “Heroic Age” and modern researchers who have shown its negative consequences. While
achievements in official statistics were covered, there were many problems in real life. In the
case of Uzbekistan, many parts of the land were unsuitable for irrigation, and salinity
increased. Environmental issues continue to this day.
Conclusion
The policy of new land development, implemented during the Soviet era, has an important
place as a historical process. While production rates increased in the short term through this
experiment, it created long-term environmental, social, and economic problems. In particular,
the island tragedy, the salinity of the lands, the consequences of migration remain in history
as negative results of this campaign.
This historical experience represents the need to maintain a careful, scientific basis and
ecological balance in the development of agricultural policies today. Any large agrarian
policy should be carried out taking into account the environment and local conditions.
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