American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 13, Feb., 2023 19 | P a g e ESTABLISHMENT OF COTTON MONOPOLY POLICY OF AGRICULTURE IN UZBEKISTAN (1932-1936) Ergashali Makhsudovich Erkaev Candidate of Historical Sciences (PhD), Associate Professor of “History of Uzbekistan” of Andizhan State University, Republic of Uzbekistan Abstract In the article, the establishment of the policy of cotton monopoly in the agricultural sector of Uzbekistan during the Soviet period, its negative aspects in the period of 1932-1936, based on the information of primary sources and scientific literature, are highlighted. Keywords: Cotton monoculture, Turkistan breeding station “Navrotsky”, “Kolkhozchi” (8517), “Uzbekistan” (36M2), MTS, Resolution “On the preparation of cotton processing and the collection of raw cotton”, irrigation, mechanization of agriculture, Northern Ferghana, Southern Ferghana, Tashkent channels. INTRODUCTION By the beginning of the 1930s, as a result of total collectivization of Uzbekistan's agriculture, as in the entire Soviet country, the collective farm system “won” in the republic. In 1932, 72% of the peasant farms of the republic were united into collective farms. Dozens of state farms were established. Authorities used the method of violence in economic relations with collective farms and state farms. The state determined how much land to plant cotton and other crops and at what price to sell the cultivated products to the rural workers. RESEARCH METHODS In the conditions of Uzbekistan, the government of the Union paid attention to the cultivation of cotton, and created a situation where most of the cotton was planted on irrigated lands, and other crops were squeezed out. Only the central government decided how much land to plant cotton and grow cotton fiber every year. In order to fully meet the demand for raw materials of the Russian textile industry, the center increased the cotton cultivation plan of Uzbekistan year by year. This, in turn, led to the growth of cotton plantations and the rise of cotton monopoly. At the VI Plenum of the Central Committee of the Uzkompartiya, held in February 1933, it was noted that cotton monoculture was on the rise in a number of kolkhozes in some regions of the republic, and cotton was grown on 90 or more percent of the area, while in the regions this figure was 85 or more percent (1, 593). Under the conditions of Uzbekistan, the American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 13, Feb., 2023 20 | P a g e plan for how many hectares of cotton to plant was undoubtedly determined by the Union government. The First Secretary of the Uzkompartiya A. Ikromov, in his speech at the VI plenum of the Central Committee of the Uzkompartiya (February 1933) on the topic "The end of the four-year struggle for cotton and the next tasks of the cotton year of 1933" said the following in this regard: set the task of planting cotton. The plan is given, the plan is absolutely right, and we must follow it. When it is discovered that the cultivation is not complete, we will prosecute the leaders for their blindness, for deceiving the party and the government" [2, 230]. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS According to the request and task of the center, the cotton fields and the total yield in the republic have been increasing year by year. In 1928, cotton fields in the republic were 530,000 hectares, and by 1933, their area reached 880,000 hectares. If in 1931 709 thousand tons of cotton were handed over to the state, in 1932 this number was 759 thousand tons, and in 1933 it was 803 thousand tons (2, 421-422). As a result, kolkhozes and state farms turned into monoculture farms, mainly planting cotton on irrigated land. A. Ikromov, in his report on January 5, 1935, at the III plenum of the Central Committee of the Uzkompartiya, on the topic "On the end of cotton production in 1934, strengthening of collective farms and the tasks of the spring crop season", indicated that cotton made up 70-75 percent of the crop plan of collective farms, and 25-30 percent of individual farms [2,110]. The number and official information given by A. Ikramov about the cotton fields were actually higher than that. Other information also testifies to this. In the report submitted to the 6th party meeting of the Central Committee of the Uzkompartiya on January 10, 1934, "There are no regions in Uzbekistan where more than 80 percent of cotton is planted. Nevertheless, there are kolkhozes in some regions, which are considered monocultural. Take Oltinkol district, there are definitely 92-93 percent of the cotton farms there, although the total area of cotton in the district is 81 percent, he said" [3, 13-14]. It is known from the evidence in the report of the Central Committee of the Communist Party that it is not good if cotton is planted on 90 percent or more of the existing collective farms, but 80 percent is fine. However, according to the recommendation of scientific and research organizations, the area of cotton crops in agriculture should not exceed 60 percent. Only then, it was possible to restore the fertility of the soil, alternate planting. In order to further develop the textile industry and fully satisfy the demand for cotton raw materials, the Soviet government has been expanding cotton cultivation and cultivation area in the Central Asian republics, especially in Uzbekistan, year by year. As a result, the share of cotton area among the irrigated crops of the republic did not decrease. In the years 1934-1936, the gross yield and yield of cotton in the republic increased and doubled. American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 13, Feb., 2023 21 | P a g e According to these data, in 1934-1936, the total yield of cotton in the republic increased from 720 thousand tons to 1452.6 thousand tons. This increase was mainly due to the increase in cotton yield. Productivity increased from 8.2 centners per hectare to 16.36 centners in 1934-1936. For example, in 1933-1936, the yield of cotton in the regions of Samarkand district increased from 5.5 to 12.5 centners. During this period, cotton productivity increased from 5.8 to 11.5 centners in Khorezm district, from 7.2 to 16.2 centners in Tashkent district regions, and from 12.9 to 21.6 centners in Ferghana Valley, which is the main growing region of the republic. Some regions have achieved even higher achievements. In 1933-1936, cotton yield increased from 4.2 to 20.8 centners in Urgut region, from 7.7 to 17.4 centners in Jomboy region, from 8.1 to 19.5 centners in Samarkand region, from 10 to 19.5 centners in Norin region. In 1936, hundreds of collective farms and some regions produced more than 25 centners of cotton per hectare. Izboskan region produced 30.3 centners of cotton from each hectare of its 10,300 hectares and delivered a total of 31,254 tons of cotton. Andijan region delivered 28.4 centners per hectare and a total of 55,338 tons of cotton. Lenin region produced 27.6 centners and 61,301 tons of cotton per hectare. Namangan district produced 27.2 centners and 34453 tons of cotton per hectare. Uychi region harvested 26.2 centners per hectare and 24,664 tons of cotton in total [14.7]. Year by year growth of cotton yield, implementation of the plan for cotton cultivation is considered to be due to the fact that the Union government has supplied Uzbekistan with a large amount of mineral fertilizers, agricultural machinery, special attention has been paid to personnel training, irrigation constructions, and the increase of cotton cultivation area. In 1936, the amount of mineral fertilizer applied to cotton almost doubled. In 1935, 310,000 tons of mineral fertilizers were applied, and in 1936, 560,000 tons of mineral fertilizers were used for cotton. During this period, the area of cotton cultivated with mineral fertilizers increased from 422 thousand hectares to 740 thousand hectares. The amount of local fertilizers applied to cotton has also increased significantly. In 1935, 372,000 hectares of land were fertilized, and in 1936, 544,000 hectares were fertilized [4,16]. At the same time, the correct use of fertilizers and the technique of applying fertilizers were improved. In the 30s of the 20th century, by the order of the Union government, a seed breeding station and an experiment were established in the Republic. In order to increase the yield of cotton, to increase the cultivation of long- fiber cotton, to grow a variety of cotton that produces a lot of fiber, large-scale selection work was carried out on the issues of cotton seed production. The work in this field was carried out, especially in accordance with the resolution of the Soviet of People's Commissars of the USSR dated August 29, 1934 "On the improvement of seed production in the cotton sector" after the decision on events" [5.88]. It is known that in the 1920s, the "Navrotsky" variety of cotton was mainly grown in the cotton fields of Uzbekistan. In 1933-1940, the leading cotton varieties were American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 13, Feb., 2023 22 | P a g e "Kolkhozchi" (8517) bred by breeders S.S. Kenash and "Uzbekistan" (36M2) bred by P.V. Magilnikov. Cotton variety 8517 Navrotsky had 5-10% cotton yield, 10-20% fiber, 3-4% more fiber from raw cotton, and 31-32 mm fiber length (4,23-24). In order to increase the seeds of new productive varieties of cotton, seed farm brigades were organized in collective farms and state farms. Seed laboratories have been opened to test seed in cotton gins. The introduction of new cotton varieties into production helped to improve its quality. For example, in 1933, 92.2% of cotton varieties with a fiber length of 30 mm, and 31-33 mm varieties were planted on 4.4% of the cultivated area in the republic. Therefore, in 1933-1936, the planting of short and medium fiber cotton varieties was reduced and the cultivated areas of long fiber varieties expanded. Increasing cotton cultivation in the republic, shortening the duration of agricultural works, improving the supply of agricultural tractor-mechanization, and organizing machine-tractor stations played a decisive role in the expansion of agrotechnical activities. This can be seen from the increasing number of MTS in Uzbekistan. For example, in 1929, 4 MTS were established, in 1930, 25, 19 in 1931, 19 in 1932, 5 in 1933, 15 in 1934, and 25 in 1935. Along with the growth of the number of established MTSs, the tractor fleet of MTSs also developed. In 1935, the number of tractors in MTS increased from 6247 to 12298. In addition to tractors, MTS had 7,988 plows, 2,309 cultivators, 1,371 cotton seeders and other agricultural equipment in 1935 [4, 136-140]. MTSs provided services to almost all collective farms and cultivated collective farm fields in kind. The amount of this fee was determined by the state based on its interests. It should be noted that the accumulation of tractors, plows and other means of production in MTS, in the hands of the state, was not transferred to collective farms and peasants as property, separated the equipment from the peasants. Farmers are not full-time owners of agricultural equipment. Year by year, the number of MTS and their tractors increased in the republic. In 1933, there were 72 MTS in Uzbekistan and an average of 56 tractors per MTS. Accordingly, there were 87 and 86 MTS in 1934, 112 and 92 in 1935, 136 and 101 in 1936, 163 MTS in 1937 and an average of 112 tractors per MTS. These data show that in 1933-1937 the number of MTSs increased from 72 to 163, the number of tractors in MTSs increased from 4032 to 18256 [7,88-91]. The government of the Union has supplied a large amount of agricultural machinery in order to develop cotton cultivation and increase the cotton yield in Uzbekistan. This can also be seen in the decision of the VI plenum of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Uzbekistan on July 10-13, 1936 "On reprocessing cotton, picking and preparing cotton." Among other things, the decision stated: "In the cotton fields of Uzbekistan's kolkhozes, this spring, instead of 1,756 universal tractors, bulturgi worked 3,137, instead of 941 last year, 2,337 tractor seeders, instead of 1,497 cultivators, this year 3,085 worked in the fields of mechanized work provided excellent growth" [1, 673]. American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 13, Feb., 2023 23 | P a g e For example, in Mirzachol region, 93.5% of plowing, 76% of planting, and 90.2% of cultivation were mechanized. 71.3% of land plowing, 49.5% of planting, and 85.8% of cultivation were mechanized in Balıkchi MTS [4.25]. The volume of the main works on cotton in the republic with the help of tractors increased year by year. The Union government allocated a large amount of funds to the construction of irrigation in Uzbekistan in order to increase the cotton cultivation area and its gross yield. In particular, 234 million rubles were allocated to this sector in 1929-1932, and 444.1 million in 1933-1937. rubles allocated (8,161). As can be seen from the above figures, the state allocated almost twice as much funds to water management organizations of the republic in the second five-year period as compared to the first five-year period [14]. In 1929, 549,568 tons of 823,349 tons of cotton in the former USSR were grown in Uzbekistan, and 758,044 tons of 1,216,617 tons of cotton grown in 1932 were delivered in the republic. If by 1038 the average yield reached 15.7 centners, 2 million 690 thousand tons of cotton were harvested in the Union, of which 1 million. 542.5 thousand tons accounted for 57.4% of all cultivated cotton [13] according to the share of Uzbekistan. It should be noted that in previous years, the irrigated lands were mainly used for the expansion of cotton fields. By 1936, the cotton monopoly was on the rise. The share of cotton in field crops was 75 percent in the republic, and more than 80 percent in some regions. During the first and second five-year periods in the republic, the method of crop rotation was almost ignored. As a result, the composition of the soil layer was disturbed. Aggregate mobilization led to the strengthening of the mechanism of backwardness in rural development. The policy of alienation from property and land, complete political disenfranchisement, and physical extermination of the most enterprising employees due to collectivization instilled by force greatly weakened the means of stimulating agricultural labor and increased the need for experienced farmers [12]. For example, during the "cleansing" campaign in 1932, 3550 "kulaks" were expelled from the republic's collective farms, of which 306 were chairmen of collective farms, 756 were members of the management, and 425 were management secretaries [10.182]. One of the main goals of the Soviet state was to "finish the peasants as a class" and to attract them from their cheap labor force to agricultural work in remote, undeveloped regions of the Republic on the basis of exile. In 1936, the "former ears" in the labor settlements of Uzbekistan were 9 labor settlements in the territories of the Uzovkhozkhlopok trust state farms of the People’s Commissariat of Land Affairs of the UzSSR, and they were engaged in cotton growing, and there were 971 families or 12,248 people in these settlements [11.165]. Since 1935, the government, whose goal is to increase the total yield of cotton in Uzbekistan, has increased the average purchase of cotton and set a premium for cotton delivered to the state outside of the plan. For each quintal of cotton delivered in excess American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 13, Feb., 2023 24 | P a g e of the plan (if the contract was signed with the collective farm to harvest 6 quintals from each hectare of land), 15% in addition to the basic salary, 100% if the yield is up to 6-9 quintals per hectare, 150% if the 10-15 quintal yield is 150% per hectare If he gets more than 15 centners, he gets 200 percent additional fee [9.166]. CONCLUSION The above measures were mainly used in the farms of cotton-growing regions, and emphasized the planting of cotton in all irrigated lands. As a result, cotton cultivation areas in collective farms have been expanding year by year, and the level of cotton monoculture has increased. In 1933-1936, the share of cotton in collective farms in the republic reached 80-90%. In the five years before the war, the growth of industrialization across the Union, including the textile industry, increased the demand for raw cotton. Based on this, the union government did not consider the local conditions and gave orders to Uzbekistan to grow more cotton crops. This forced the kolkhozes to plant cotton on all irrigated land, further strengthening the cotton monopoly. REFERENCES 1. The Communist Party of Uzbekistan in the resolutions and decisions of congresses and plenums of the Central Committee (1925-1986). In the 4th, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. 1987, v.1 – p.593 2. Ikromov Akmal. Selected works in 3 volumes. Tashkent, Uzbekistan, 1974, V.3.p230. 3.Report of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (b) to the Uz.Partkurultay. January 10, 1934 - Tashkent: Uzpartizdat 1934. C13-14. 4. National Archives of Uzbekistan, fund 90, register 8, case 1302, sheets 16. 5. Fight for cotton.-Tashkent, 1934. No. 6-7. p-88. 6. History of development of cotton growing in Uzbekistan, Tashkent: Fan, 1983, p- 95. 7. History of the development of mechanization of cotton growing in Uzbekistan, Tashkent: Fan, 1985 p-69. 8.Mamedov A.M. Development of irrigation in Uzbekistan. Tashkent, Fan, 1967, p.161. 9 Razzakov A. The history of cotton cultivation in Uzbekistan. Tashkent, Uzbekistan. 1994. 166-167. 10. Hoshimov S. Repressive policy of the Soviet authorities in Uzbekistan and its consequences (1917-1936). " Akademnashr ", 2018 11. Abdullaev M. The system of special settlements in Central Asia and the fate of exiled kulaks (1930-1954) -Tashkent, "Akademnashr", 2018. 12. Komilov O. Land reclamation and irrigation measures of virgin lands in Karshi Steppe // Frontline Social Sciences and History Journal 2 (01), 2022. p.37. American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development ISSN Online: 2771-8948 Website: www.ajird.journalspark.org Volume 13, Feb., 2023 25 | P a g e 13. Komilov O. Development of the irrigation system in Uzbekistan: achievements, problems and consequences.-Tashkent: Akademnashr, 2016. p.149. 14. Komilov O.K (2022). From the history of irrigation and land reclamation in Uzbekistan (1950-1990)// American Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Development.10, P.416-417.