sorhoz

A sovkhoz, plural sovkhozy, was a type of State-owned farm in the Soviet Union. The term is derived from the Russian words "sovietskoye khozyaystvo," meaning "Soviet farm." Sovkhozy were established and operated directly by the state, with land and means of production owned by the government. Workers on a sovkhoz were considered employees of the state and received wages for their labor, along with other benefits like pensions and healthcare. This contrasted with the kolkhoz, another form of collective farm where members theoretically owned the means of production collectively and shared in the farm's profits. Sovkhozy were often larger and more specialized than kolkhozy, frequently focusing on large-scale grain production, livestock, or industrial crops. They played a significant role in Soviet agricultural policy and were used as instruments for implementing state economic plans and agricultural modernization efforts. The system of sovkhozy was a key component of the collectivization of agriculture in the Soviet Union, aiming to increase food production and exert state control over the rural economy. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, many sovkhozy were reorganized or privatized.