Die "agro-industrielle" Integration in der Sowjetunion und Osteuropa
"Agro-Industrial'' Integration in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe

Summary/Abstract: The article follows up the earlier one in no. 8, 1974, of this journal. It demonstrates the low degree of vertical integration in the East European countries and the Soviet Union, as it has existed up to the present, and also the efforts recently made to change this situation. After pointing out various side aspects of such integration in those countries - necessity to overcome seasonal and regional underemployment in agriculture, improvement of rural infrastructure and resettlement, etc. - it reviews the ways and progress of vertical integration in the individual countries. Bulgaria is shown to be the leader in this policy but also is presumed to run into difficulties in the future because of high cost and an inadequate industrial and infrastructural basis. Bulgaria may even have served as an example for Moldavia, the Soviet republic which at present is most advanced in setting up agro-industrial complexes and in connection with this is the only one with a Kolkhoz Soviet which has become part of the administrative structure. Moldavia and Bulgaria have comparable agricultural output with heavy emphasis on fruit, grapes and vegetables, which are specially suited for integration of agriculture with the processing industry. The most elaborate system of vertical integration in the GDR is dealt with only briefly.

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