why was the irrigation of soviet cotton farming operations a problem? course hero

by Anna Krajcik 4 min read

It angered local resort communities, which did not want farming in the region. There was governmental opposition that limited water access, killing crops. Irrigation water came from rivers feeding into one of the largest lakes on Earth and resulted in major contamination of that source. It was, for the most part, not a problem.

Full Answer

How much cotton did the Soviet Union supply in 1976?

In February 1976, the head of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic - Sharaf Rashidov - stated that Uzbekistan would supply the Soviet Union with 5.5 million tons of cotton each year, up from four million tons. // Uzbek SSR, 1973. This commitment literally sold the people into servitude.

What was the importance of cotton in the Soviet Union?

Cotton in the Soviet Union was a raw material of great strategic importance. Not only was it a vital element in the production of weapons, but it provided affordable clothing for the country’s population. // Cotton harvesting, Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR), 1973. R. Shamsutdinov/TASS.

What happened to Rashidov in 1983?

In 1983, according to legend, Andropov phoned Rashidov and asked how much cotton would actually be gathered. Rashidov suffered a stroke after this conversation, but it was rumored he drank poison. // Turkmen SSR, 1977. K.Muradov/TASS.

What did cottonpickers do to make up for the shortfall?

To make up for the shortfall, cottonpickers started putting stones in their sacks, and empty rail carriages were dispatched to Moscow where dishonest officials would take bribes to record them as being full. // Kazakh SSR

What was the Cotton scandal?

Cotton in the Soviet Union was a raw material of great strategic importance.

Who was the first secretary of Uzbekistan's Communist Party?

// Fidel Castro (L) and First Secretary of Uzbekistan's Communist Party Sharof Rashidov (2nd R) and a shepherd at the Sverdlov collective-farm, 1963. Vasily/RIA Novosti.

Was cotton a curse in Uzbekistan?

// Tajik SSR, 1980. Mahmud Babadzhanov/TASS. As a vital commodity for the central authorities, cotton was a real curse for some regions. A huge amount was grown in Uzbekistan.