EAST EUROPEAN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION AND TRADE IN 1976-73 WITH PROJECTIONS FOR 1985

The gross agricultural production in Eastern Europe increased 20 percent between 1971 and 1976-78. The livestock sector grew faster than the crop sector causing a widening gap between domestic feed requirement and supply. The increasing feed imports together with higher prices of energy forced the countries to heavy borrowing. The larger current debt servicing obligations retard economic growth. Based on the present economic conditions a slow down in the rate of increase of the livestock sector is expected during 1981-85. .The projected annual rate of increase for total meat production is 2 percent. Based on projected total grain production and consumption Eastern Europe's net grain imports will be about 9.6 million tons and total protein meal import 5.4 million tons by 1985

HUNGARIAN ECONOMIC REFORMS

Hungary's market-oriented economic reforms in 1968 were followed from 1973 through 1978 by strict Government controls, centralization of enterprises, and heavy foreign borrowing. The expansionary policy financed with foreign loans brought the country to the verge of bankruptcy. An austerity program introduced in 1979 with return to the 1968 reform principles led to significant reduction of rate of economic growth. After a financial turnaround, the policymakers initiated a management reform in 1985 with emphasis on workers' participation. In contrast with industry, the agricultural sector operated under the reform principles throughout the seventies and enjoyed fast production growth. But since 1979, because of higher production cost and reduced investment, the rate of growth and profits declined

Agricultural Statistics of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, 1950-70

This publication contains 99 tables of statistics on land use, farm machinery, fertilizer availability, crop production, livestock and poultry numbers, livestock products, and per capita consumption of selected foods. Data are presented for Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Yugoslavia, and the Soviet Union. Explanatory notes define the terminology and describe the statistical concepts that apply in each country