In the autumn of 1916, due to the incorporation into the Russian army of a significant part of the male employable population, while another part was obliged to work for the Russian army (to participate in digging of trenches and construction of railways, in transporting of alimentary products, fodder and military assets, in repairing of strategic roads), the number of workers in Bessarabia was considerably reduced, affecting negatively Bessarabia’s agriculture. The cultivated area diminished more than half compared to 1915. Concerned about the situation created in the agricultural sector of the province, the Bessarabian governor repeatedly asked the military authorities to relieve the Bessarabian population from toil for the army and to send prisoners to do agricultural works.