The Soviet Unions agricultural collectivization was one of the most important economic and social changes of the 20th Century. The policy was initiated in 1928 by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, who saw the creation of collective farms, or kolkhozes, as a way to increase agricultural productivity and incite a rapid modernisation of the Soviet Union. It was also a way for Stalin to tighten control over the rural population. Collectivization changed the traditional subsistence farming of the Russian peasantry and had far reaching economic and societal consequences.
In the first five-year plan, Stalin sought to industrialise the Soviet Union at a rapid pace. This required large amounts of capital but the Soviet Union did not have the money needed to finance the plan. Stalins answer was to extract funds from the peasantry by forcing farmers onto collective farms. Peasants were no longer allowed to farm on their own land and were instead required to contribute a portion of their produce to the collective. Private farms were replaced with collective production and the state was able to access large amounts of agricultural output.
The policy of collectivization was a way to force peasants to improve their production levels. State-mandated quotas were set for each kolkhoz and these quotas had to be met or the collective would suffer a financial penalty. Collectivization also enabled state controls on distribution, forcing peasants to sell their produce to the state at lower prices than that of market demand. This was a way of ensuring there was an adequate supply of food for the cities and for the army.
However, collectivization had far-reaching consequences for the economy and society of the Soviet Union. Among its economic effects, collectivization created severe disruptions in agricultural production. As peasants were forced to abandon their homes and take up residence in collective farms, land was left untended; crops were plowed under or left to rot in the fields. This resulted in a massive drop in agricultural production, resulting in unavailability of food in both rural and urban areas of the Soviet Union.
Collectivization also led to a transformation of the traditional peasantry into a class of agricultural workers. This led to the elimination of small-scale artisanal production, as well as the destruction of traditional customs and beliefs. More significantly, it led to a shift in power away from the individual and towards the Soviet bureaucracy. As peasants were co-opted into collective production, they lost their independence and were forced to accept the authority of the collective.
Finally, collectivization had severe consequences for the environment. Population shifts associated with the collectivization policy led to the destruction of the Russian taiga, the loss of forest cover, and changes in the pattern of natural resource use. It also led to increased pollution, as industrial production increased, and the use of chemical fertilizers and other toxins contaminated the land.
In conclusion, the Soviet Union’s agricultural collectivization was an important economic and social change of the twentieth century. The policy had far-reaching consequences, both economically and socially, and had a major impact on the environment. Collectivization was effective in increasing agricultural productivity, but the costs of this change were high and often not taken into account by its proponents. Collectivization ultimately led to a more oppressive Soviet society and had a major impact on the environment that has yet to be fully addressed.
