Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1942, Page 122

IIO
LE NORD
sharp fall; the fodder crop was even smaller than was expected;
fodder cellulose was not used as much as estimated, and only
limited quantities of foreign concentrated fodder were imported.
At the same time it was possible to make up only part of the
shortage of protein by the domestic concentrated fodder. Conse-
quently, the fat situation was very difficult during the consump-
tion period 1941—42 and the rations had to be greatly restricted.
The agricultural production campaign will he carried on in
1942 hecause the need of instruction is ohvious so long as the
exceptional circumstances continue. There is a great shortage in
the self-sufficiency in food-stuffs, the covering of which is un-
certain on account of the international blockade. The amelioration
of the food situation depends more than before upon the pro-
moting of agricultural home production. Unforunately, many
necessary factors are unobtainable, the possibilities of intensify-
ing cultivation are very limited, and in many cases the cultivation
area will be less fertilised and will lack mechanised labour.
The Production Division of the Ministry of Agriculture made
an inquiry into the cultivation area of winter crop through its
local bodies in Autumn 1941. Excluding the reconquered and
occupied districts, the area sown in 1941 was about 85 per cent.
of that of 1940; this was due to labour difficulties, especially to
lack of hauling power. The winter crop sowings in the recon-
quered areas were only on a small scale, so great were the general
difficulties.
The decreased cultivation area of winter corn reduces the
possibilities of self-sufficiency in cereals during the harvest year
1942—43, and correspondingly increases the shortage to be cover-
ed, which can only be reduced by increasing the cultivation of
cereals to be sown in Spring 1942. The increasing of self-suffi-
ciency in cereals will therefore he the main ohject of the culti-
vation plan for 1942.
Unfortunately the difficulties will be great. Decidedly the
most unfavourahle factor is that the area of autumn ploughing
was smaller in Autumn 1941 than usual, owing to the general
labour difficulties.
The absence of male labour and horses with the Army ren-
dered the autumn ploughing difficult. In south and west Finland
it was greatly reduced by the scanty use of tractors compared
with previous years owing to the fuel problem. Many tractors
were provided with wood carburettors in 1941, but in Autumn