The dissertation is devoted to the study of scientific and technical potential of production and primary processing of bast crops in the Ukraine in the second half of the 20th century based on research by scientists of the All-Union Research Institute of Bast Cultures (now – Institute of Bast Cultures NAAS).
The scientific and technical potential of ARIBC was revealed on the basis of published and unpublished archival documents of the Central State Archives of Ukraine, the State Archives of Sumy region, the Departmental Archives of the Institute of Bast Crops of NAAS. The source base includes scientific works of scientists on the cultivation of bast crops, periodicals and other materials that have contributed to the solution of research problems. Determining the research methodology together with the analysis of historiography and the source base led to the choice of directions and ways to solve the main problems of the subject of research. Contributed to the formation of new conclusions and generalizations, their own interpretation of individual events and phenomena, objective assessment of the creative contribution of scientists ARIBC in the development of production and primary processing of bast crops in the Ukraine.
There are four periods of development of scientific and technical potential of production and primary processing of bast crops in the Ukraine in the second half of the 1940s – 1980s. During the first period (1944–1955), the branch All-Union Research Institute of Bast Cultures was established by merging two existing institutions. During this period, the institution had the largest network of separate divisions and conducted research with hemp, flax and uncommon bast crops. The post-war revival of research on breeding and seed production, agricultural techniques of bast crops began, where tillage processes were carried out manually. An important achievement was the zoning of new varieties of monocotyledonous hemp and rare bast crops. Material staffing and construction of the main base of the institute and its separate subdivisions took place.
It is established that in the second period (1956–1961) the institute's network was restructured. Most of its separate units were subordinated to the local departmental structures of individual republics of the Ukraine, and some were disbanded altogether. During this period, research work was performed only with hemp and candy. Carried out active work to restore genetic experiments in cannabis. The mechanization department began active work on the creation of a hemp harvester, which was to completely replace manual labor. Much attention is paid to the effective alternation of bast crops in crop rotations and rational tillage.
The third period (1962–1969) reveals the work in the structure of ARIBC Research and Production Farm and Zolotonosha Research Station, where they performed research work with hemp. During this period, the Department of Cytology and Genetics, which studied the sex of cannabis, resumed its activities at the institute. Scientists have developed a new technology for harvesting hemp for fiber and bilateral use and created a set of machines for its implementation. The technology of water-air wetting of hemp in stationary reservoirs was developed and introduced into production, where mechanized loading of straw and unloading of trusts was carried out with the exception of the necessity of emissions of spent wetting liquid. The perfect design of the combine of semi-hinged type is created.
During the fourth period (1970–1991), active research work was carried out in the direction of creating highly effective, productive and resistant to diseases and pests varieties of cannabis with a minimum content of narcotic substances. International cooperation of the institute's scientists with scientists of the countries of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance took place. This period was the heyday of scientific activity of the institution. In particular, scientists have zoned more than 10 varieties of hemp, the cultivation of which has increased their productivity by 2 times. A significant achievement was the creation of a self-propelled hemp harvester, which combined the processes of mowing and threshing hemp, which significantly reduced the time of harvesting hemp and reduced the amount of manual labor.
