Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1942, Side 121

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION IN FINLAND 109
The percentage of self-sufficiency in food increased regularly
until towards the end of the last decade. It was at its highest in
the harvest year 1938—39, viz. 84,2. The circumstances were
exceptional in 1939—40 on account of the war and the 1939
penod of growth was rather unfavourable; consequently, the per-
centage of self-sufficiency in food-stuffs fell considerably. As,
however, the possibilities of import were fairly good, the shortage
could be covered by that means and only a partial rationing was
considered necessary.
The harvest year 1940—41 was very difficult for Finland’s
food question, hecause the crop was poor and the possihilities of
import continuously decreased. Although some 150 million kg
foreign corn was imported during the year in question, the diffi-
culties were considerable. It was possible to overcome them and
to reach the self-sufficiency percentage of 75 only by effective
tationing and at the end of the harvest year, i. e. on June ist
x94i it was necessary to reduce the rations of cereals consider-
ably.
As is well known the yield of 1941 was rather poor and, con-
sidering the exceptional circumstances due to the war when the
c°nsumption of provisions is greater than in normal times, it is
clear that the food situation in Finland will he difficult in the
harvest year 1941—42, considerahly more difficult than that of
z940—41 ■ A certain amount, as yet unknown, was harvested in
feconquered areas and in the occupied part of Eastern Carelia, but
ls not included in the estimate already made. On the whole, how-
ever, it is of little importance. Considering the additional popu-
iation of Eastern Carelia’s occupied area, the losses of provisions
due to the war and the considerable need for seed in the recovered
and occupied areas in 1942, the balance of food will on the whole
be negative in the harvest year 1941—42.
In Autumn 1941 it was desired to keep the rations of milk
Products the same as before by regulating their consumption.
Whether this could be done depended on the possibilities of im-
Porting cereals, the greatest possible use of the home provisions,
and to what extent the substitute food-stuffs and fodder obtain-
able in the country could be used. The fodder cellulose is a great
help in the domestic animals’ production, and of it about 65
taill. kg were consumed during the feeding period 1940—41.
The maintenance of domestic animal production is an ex-
ceedingly difficult question; it has not been possible to avoid a