Battle for Grain
Fascist italian economic policy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Battle for Grain (Italian: Battaglia del grano), also known as the Battle for Wheat, was a propaganda campaign launched in 1925 during the fascist regime of Italy by Benito Mussolini, with the aim of gaining self-sufficiency in wheat production and freeing Italy from the "slavery of foreign bread". This campaign was successful in increasing wheat output and lowering the trade deficit; this happened at the expense of diversification, as many farmers who grew other produce had to clear their land for grain cultivation.
Aims
Some of the policy's aims included:
- Boost grain production to make Italy self-sufficient in wheat
- Reduce the trade balance deficit
- Reduce the need of importing bread
- Project Italy as a major European power
See also
References
Sources
- Celli, Carlo. 2013. Economic Fascism: Primary Sources on Mussolini's Crony Capitalism. Axios Press.
- Fascist Italy by John Hite
- Mussolini by Denis Mack Smith