Russian food market in the beginning of the XX century (to the 110th anniversary of the agrarian reform of P. A. Stolypin)

The article analyzes the situation that developed on the Russian food market the day before, during and after the agrarian reform of P. A. Stolypin. The dynamics and main directions of the food market development, their relationship with the processes of agricultural reform are shown. The main factors of development of the food market in the post-reform period and concrete positive results of the agrarian reform are revealed. In particular, the increase in the yield of agricultural products and the volume of the food market, in general, under adverse climatic and socio-political conditions. More careful processing of the land and the use of agricultural machinery were accompanied during the years of agrarian reform by an insignificant growth in the acreage, which suggests that attempts by the authorities to intensify agricultural production. The article puts forward the provision that due to the agrarian reform of 1906-1911. In Russia for the first time for many centuries it was possible to solve the problem of ensuring a positive food balance and establish a favorable export of agricultural products with an active trade balance. The growth of exports of agricultural products and the provision of food balance in the domestic market are seen as positive results of reforming the Russian agrarian economy. With a relatively lower capital investment in land reclamation compared to the European level, the relative productivity of agricultural producers during the reform period has steadily increased. The study concludes with the main reasons for the recession in the food market on the eve and during the First World War, due to purely political factors.