Virgin Lands Scheme

Question 1

What was the main aim of the scheme?

Answer 1

To open up uncultivated land in Central Asia + Western Siberia

Question 2

What was to happen with the Black earth region and Ukraine?

Answer 2

To be used for maize and livestock BUT not suited for maize

Question 3

When were MTS abolished?

Answer 3

1958

Question 4

How was the VL a temporary expedient?

Answer 4

Land would only be fertile in the short term:

- Meant to be used while other areas modernised BUT all resources being used for VL

Question 5

What were the harvests like in 1956,58 and 64?

Answer 5

1956 = good
1958 = excellent
- due to good weather conditions
1964 = disastrous

Question 6

Who was Lysenko?

Answer 6

Gave Khrushchev the ideas of VL and how to improve agriculture but most likely knew these were wrong