Collective farming: Difference between revisions

The third and final phase forbade possession of land above {{convert|50|ha}} for one family. This phase was carried out in April 1948, two months after the [[Communist Party of Czechoslovakia]] [[1948 Czechoslovak coup d'état|took power by force]]. Farms started to be collectivized, mostly under the threat of sanctions. The most obstinate farmers were persecuted and imprisoned. The most common form of collectivization was ''[[agricultural cooperative]]'' ({{lang-cz|Jednotné zemědělské družstvo}}, JZD; {{lang-sk|Jednotné roľnícke družstvo}}, JRD). The collectivization was implemented in three stages (1949–1952, 1953–1956, 1956–1969) and officially ended with the 1960 implementation of the constitution establishing the [[Czechoslovak Socialist Republic]], which made private ownership illegal.

 

 

Subsidies and constant pressure destroyed the remaining private farmers; only a handful of them remained after the 1960s. The lifestyle of villagers had eventually reached the level of cities, and village poverty was eliminated. Czechoslovakia was again able to produce enough food for its citizens. The price of this success was a huge waste of resources because the cooperatives had no incentive to improve efficiency. Every piece of land was cultivated regardless of the expense involved, and the soil became heavily polluted with chemicals. Also, the intensive use of heavy machinery damaged topsoil. Furthermore, the cooperatives were infamous for over-employment.