What was one of the positive effects of the New Economic Policy on agriculture by 1925?

The New Economic Policy (NEP), introduced by Vladimir Lenin in 1921, aimed to revitalize the Soviet economy after the devastation caused by the Russian Civil War. One of the significant positive effects of the NEP on agriculture by 1925 was indeed the doubling of grain harvests.

Under the NEP, peasants were allowed to sell their surplus grain on the open market, which provided them with financial incentives to increase production. This shift from the previous War Communism policy, which imposed strict requisitioning of grain, enabled farmers to retain a portion of their harvest for personal use and sale. As a result, this policy created a more dynamic agricultural environment and spurred farmers to cultivate more land and invest in better farming techniques, leading to a substantial increase in grain harvests.

By 1925, the positive impact of these reforms was clearly visible as agricultural productivity saw significant improvements, helping to stabilize the economy and reduce food shortages that had plagued the country previously. The doubling of grain harvests not only benefited farmers but also contributed to the overall recovery of the Soviet economy during that period.