Why did food shortages start in ww1 in russia?

Answer 1

Because conscription was introduced, forcing millions of men into the army. Also, 80% of the labour force was engaged in war production. So there were less household goods being produce. There was also inflation, meaning that the value of money significantly dropped. So the farmers didn't want to exchange valuable food for worthless money, especiallly as there was nothing worth buying being made. Also, loads of food was being sent to the front for the soldiers, meaning that there was even less left for the civilians, leading to chronic food shortages.

Answer 2

While there are differing opinions on the actual cause of the famine, many historians attribute the source as the Russian governments forced Agricultural Collectivization program. They mistakenly believed production would increase as a result. However, the effort fell into chaos as peasants destroyed any possessions they had managed to acquire, either killed or sold their animals and refrained from working their fields out of the fear of government seizure. The government on the other hand, blames the famine on peasants hiding their grain crops. Local activists raided farms looking for the hidden grain and seized what would have been seed for future plantings, cutting the amount of seeds that were available to plant and feed peasant families.

Answer 3

there wasn't much food going around so you may have to shorten the amount you had to eat as we were at war with the countries who sold us meat and fruit