Collectivization and Economic Policies

Collectivization and Economic Policies (1950-1958)

Collectivization of Land (1950-1952)

In 1950, Bulgaria adopted the “Model Statute of the Collective Farms” (TKZS), modeled closely on the Soviet kolkhoz statute. The collectivization of land under the First Five Year Plan progressed significantly:

Year Collective Farms Farmers (%) Arable Land (%)
1944 28 — —
1946 480 3.7% 3.5%
1948 1,110 11.2% 6%
1952 2,747 52.3% 60.5%
The forced collectivization peaked in 1950, witnessing a significant increase in the number of collective farms. By the end of the First Five Year Plan, 60% of arable land and 50% of all farms were transformed into cooperatives Guided Istanbul Tour.

Economic and Labor Policies (1950-1957)

In 1950, a new system of compulsory state supplies was introduced, obliging farmers to provide a fixed quantity of grain to the state, irrespective of the yield. The year 1951 saw the implementation of a new Labor Code, issuing job passports and prohibiting job changes. The Second Five Year Plan (1953-1957) continued the focus on industrial expansion, particularly in heavy industry, and intensified land collectivization.

Capital Investments and Industrial Preferences (1953-1957)

A comparison of capital investments between the First and Second Five Year Plans reveals a clear preference for industrial development:

Sector 1st Five Year Plan (Billion Leva) 2nd Five Year Plan (Billion Leva)
Industry 5.9 13.0
Agriculture 1.2 3.2
Transport and Communications 2.1 3.1
Others 2.8 4.7
Total 12.0 24.0

The preferred category of industry can be further divided into heavy and light industry

Year Heavy Industry (%) Light Industry (%)
1939 29% 71%
1948 35% 65%
1952 39.1% 60.9%
1955 45.2% 54.8%
Acceleration of Collectivization (1953-1958)

The tempo of collectivization in agriculture accelerated towards the end of the Second Five Year Plan. It set the stage for the “great leap forward” at the beginning of the Third Plan:

Year Collective Farms (TKZS) Farmers Average Acreage per Farm
1953 2,744 207 2,127 acres
1958 3,290 374 2,850 acres
In 1957, the Labor Code underwent revision. By April 10, 1958, the Socialist sector dominated Bulgaria’s national economy, constituting:

98% of entire industrial production
87% of entire rural-economic production
99% of domestic trade
93% of national income.

Collectivization and Economic Policies

Collectivization and Economic Policies (1950-1958)

Collectivization of Land (1950-1952)

In 1950, Bulgaria adopted the “Model Statute of the Collective Farms” (TKZS), modeled closely on the Soviet kolkhoz statute. The collectivization of land under the First Five Year Plan progressed significantly:

Year Collective Farms Farmers (%) Arable Land (%)
1944 28 — —
1946 480 3.7% 3.5%
1948 1,110 11.2% 6%
1952 2,747 52.3% 60.5%
The forced collectivization peaked in 1950, witnessing a significant increase in the number of collective farms. By the end of the First Five Year Plan, 60% of arable land and 50% of all farms were transformed into cooperatives Guided Istanbul Tour.

Economic and Labor Policies (1950-1957)

In 1950, a new system of compulsory state supplies was introduced, obliging farmers to provide a fixed quantity of grain to the state, irrespective of the yield. The year 1951 saw the implementation of a new Labor Code, issuing job passports and prohibiting job changes. The Second Five Year Plan (1953-1957) continued the focus on industrial expansion, particularly in heavy industry, and intensified land collectivization.

Capital Investments and Industrial Preferences (1953-1957)

A comparison of capital investments between the First and Second Five Year Plans reveals a clear preference for industrial development:

Sector 1st Five Year Plan (Billion Leva) 2nd Five Year Plan (Billion Leva)
Industry 5.9 13.0
Agriculture 1.2 3.2
Transport and Communications 2.1 3.1
Others 2.8 4.7
Total 12.0 24.0

The preferred category of industry can be further divided into heavy and light industry

Year Heavy Industry (%) Light Industry (%)
1939 29% 71%
1948 35% 65%
1952 39.1% 60.9%
1955 45.2% 54.8%
Acceleration of Collectivization (1953-1958)

The tempo of collectivization in agriculture accelerated towards the end of the Second Five Year Plan. It set the stage for the “great leap forward” at the beginning of the Third Plan:

Year Collective Farms (TKZS) Farmers Average Acreage per Farm
1953 2,744 207 2,127 acres
1958 3,290 374 2,850 acres
In 1957, the Labor Code underwent revision. By April 10, 1958, the Socialist sector dominated Bulgaria’s national economy, constituting:

98% of entire industrial production
87% of entire rural-economic production
99% of domestic trade
93% of national income.

Collectivization and Economic Policies

Collectivization and Economic Policies (1950-1958)

Collectivization of Land (1950-1952)

In 1950, Bulgaria adopted the “Model Statute of the Collective Farms” (TKZS), modeled closely on the Soviet kolkhoz statute. The collectivization of land under the First Five Year Plan progressed significantly:

Year Collective Farms Farmers (%) Arable Land (%)
1944 28 — —
1946 480 3.7% 3.5%
1948 1,110 11.2% 6%
1952 2,747 52.3% 60.5%
The forced collectivization peaked in 1950, witnessing a significant increase in the number of collective farms. By the end of the First Five Year Plan, 60% of arable land and 50% of all farms were transformed into cooperatives Guided Istanbul Tour.

Economic and Labor Policies (1950-1957)

In 1950, a new system of compulsory state supplies was introduced, obliging farmers to provide a fixed quantity of grain to the state, irrespective of the yield. The year 1951 saw the implementation of a new Labor Code, issuing job passports and prohibiting job changes. The Second Five Year Plan (1953-1957) continued the focus on industrial expansion, particularly in heavy industry, and intensified land collectivization.

Capital Investments and Industrial Preferences (1953-1957)

A comparison of capital investments between the First and Second Five Year Plans reveals a clear preference for industrial development:

Sector 1st Five Year Plan (Billion Leva) 2nd Five Year Plan (Billion Leva)
Industry 5.9 13.0
Agriculture 1.2 3.2
Transport and Communications 2.1 3.1
Others 2.8 4.7
Total 12.0 24.0

The preferred category of industry can be further divided into heavy and light industry

Year Heavy Industry (%) Light Industry (%)
1939 29% 71%
1948 35% 65%
1952 39.1% 60.9%
1955 45.2% 54.8%
Acceleration of Collectivization (1953-1958)

The tempo of collectivization in agriculture accelerated towards the end of the Second Five Year Plan. It set the stage for the “great leap forward” at the beginning of the Third Plan:

Year Collective Farms (TKZS) Farmers Average Acreage per Farm
1953 2,744 207 2,127 acres
1958 3,290 374 2,850 acres
In 1957, the Labor Code underwent revision. By April 10, 1958, the Socialist sector dominated Bulgaria’s national economy, constituting:

98% of entire industrial production
87% of entire rural-economic production
99% of domestic trade
93% of national income.