State Farms (Sovkhozes)

State farms, known as "sovkhozes" in the Soviet Union, were large agricultural enterprises owned and operated by the government. They were established to produce crops and livestock efficiently, serving as part of the planned economy. Workers received wages and benefits, but the farms were run without the profit motive of private businesses. Sovkhozes aimed to ensure food security and support the urban population by producing agricultural goods on a larger scale. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, many state farms faced challenges in transitioning to market-based agriculture.