This study deals with agricultural production activities and their effects on economy in Turkey from 1937, when the Agricultural Combines Authority was established, to 1949, when state hatcheries were set up. In this study, the production activities of the Agricultural Combines Authority that took place before, during and after the World War II are investigated within three periods. Evaluations on the agricultural activities of the Agricultural Combines Authority and their contributions to economy have been made based on numeric data. The source material of the study consists of Republic archive documents and official publications such as proceedings of memorandum, laws, journals of official reports, official gazettes, and statistical annuals as well as articles from economy and agriculture magazines of the period. The relevant evaluations have been made considering the contributions made by agricultural combines to agricultural production on the way to overcoming the severe conditions of the World War II. The study has found out that with the establishment of the Agricultural Combines Authority in 1937, an attempt was made to be a model to villagers through purchase of agricultural tools and machines and animals from foreign countries. However, as the expected growth was not achieved and the World War II started, the Agricultural Combines Authority helped to meet the food need of the country by producing tens of thousands of tons of cereals on a land with an area over 1,600,000 decares in its 13 farms founded to fulfill the cereals need of the army and people. By this means, it made significant contributions to national economy by preventing the risk of starvation appearing in the country both during and in the aftermath of the World War II.
Keywords: Agricultural Combines Authority, World War II, Agriculture, Agricultural Production, State Farms
DOI Number: 10.9737/hist.2018.616
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