Sovkhoz

Definition

A sovkhoz is a type of state-owned farm in the Soviet Union, where agricultural production was managed and operated by the government rather than individual farmers. These farms were established as part of the broader collectivization efforts to increase agricultural efficiency and output, reflecting a shift from private to collective farming under communist ideology. Sovkhozes played a key role in the Soviet Union’s push for industrialization by providing a stable food supply and raw materials necessary for supporting urban growth and labor demands.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sovkhozes were created during the late 1920s and early 1930s as part of Stalin's collectivization policies to enhance agricultural productivity in the Soviet Union.
2. Unlike kolkhozes, where farmers shared profits, workers on sovkhozes were paid wages, making them state employees rather than independent farmers.
3. Sovkhozes were often located in regions deemed suitable for large-scale farming, focusing on specific crops or livestock production to meet state quotas.
4. The establishment of sovkhozes was intended to increase agricultural efficiency while also serving political purposes, such as controlling food production and rural populations.
5. Over time, many sovkhozes struggled with inefficiency and low productivity due to bureaucracy, poor working conditions, and lack of incentives for workers.

Review Questions

• How did sovkhozes contribute to the goals of collectivization in the Soviet Union?
  • Sovkhozes contributed to collectivization by centralizing agricultural production under state control, which aimed to increase efficiency and output. By replacing individual farms with state-owned enterprises, the government could implement consistent policies and enforce quotas that aligned with its economic goals. This approach was intended to ensure a steady supply of food for urban populations and support the growing industrial workforce.
• Compare and contrast the structures and functions of sovkhozes and kolkhozes within the Soviet agricultural system.
  • Sovkhozes and kolkhozes both represented collective farming systems but had different structures and functions. Sovkhozes were state-owned farms where workers were paid wages as state employees, while kolkhozes were collectively owned farms where profits were shared among member farmers. This distinction meant that sovkhoz workers often had less autonomy than kolkhoz members, reflecting a more direct form of state control over agriculture.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of sovkhozes in achieving the objectives of Stalin's Five-Year Plans, considering their impact on agricultural productivity and rural society.
  • The effectiveness of sovkhozes in achieving Stalin's Five-Year Plans was mixed. While they initially aimed to increase agricultural productivity and provide essential resources for industrialization, many faced challenges such as bureaucratic inefficiency and lack of worker motivation. The reliance on quotas often led to poor-quality produce and discontent among workers. Although some sovkhozes did succeed in meeting production goals, their overall impact on rural society was complicated by social dislocation and resistance to state control.

Related terms

kolkhoz: A kolkhoz is a collective farm in the Soviet Union, where land and resources were pooled among farmers who worked together, but unlike sovkhozes, they were not directly state-owned.

Collectivization: Collectivization refers to the policy of consolidating individual landholdings and labor into collective farms, aimed at increasing agricultural productivity and controlling the rural population.

Five-Year Plans: Five-Year Plans were a series of government plans for economic development in the Soviet Union, focusing on rapid industrialization and agricultural output, which included the establishment of sovkhozes.