>>519664767
Even though they were unprofitable competing on the world market they were still an important source of employment and goods for the domestic market.
The Soviet Union did import food, a lot of it, using gas, oil, and mineral money

>>713781535
>shows that the drought
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP79-00927A004200090003-6.pdf
https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP86T00591R000100140005-4.pdf
It was not a one off deal.