kolhoz

A kolkhoz, plural kolkhozy, was a form of collective farm in the Soviet Union. These agricultural cooperatives were established during the collectivization campaigns of the late 1920s and early 1930s, aiming to consolidate individual landholdings and peasant labor into larger, state-controlled units. Membership in a kolkhoz was theoretically voluntary, but in practice, pressure and coercion were often used to force peasants to join.

The kolkhoz model typically involved members pooling their land, livestock, and tools. They worked the collective land together, and the profits were theoretically distributed among the members based on their labor contribution. However, the state exerted significant control over kolkhozy, setting production quotas and dictating what crops were to be grown. A portion of the harvest was requisitioned by the state, often at low prices. Members were also permitted to cultivate small private plots for their own use and to sell surplus produce in local markets, which often provided a significant portion of their income. The kolkhoz system was a central feature of Soviet agriculture for decades, influencing rural life and the economy profoundly.