Sokhozy

Sokhozy, also known as *sokhoz* (Russian: совхоз), refers to a type of state-owned agricultural enterprise that was prevalent in the Soviet Union and its satellite states during the 20th century. The term is derived from the Russian abbreviation for *sovetskoye khozyaystvo*, meaning "Soviet farm" or "Soviet enterprise." Sokhozy were a key component of the Soviet agricultural system, designed to centralize production and ensure food security for the state.

These collective farms operated under strict state control, with land, machinery, and labor resources managed by the government. Sokhozy were often large-scale operations, employing hundreds or even thousands of workers who were paid wages rather than receiving shares of the harvest like members of *kolkhozy* (collective farms). The state set production quotas, and any surplus was typically sold to meet national economic goals or exported.

After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, sokhozy underwent significant restructuring. Many were privatized, restructured, or dissolved as part of economic reforms, though some continued to operate in modified forms. In Russia and other former Soviet states, sokhozy remain a historical symbol of the centralized agricultural model that defined Soviet-era farming. Today, they serve as a point of reference for discussions on agricultural policy, economic transition, and the legacy of Soviet-era institutions.