With the introduction of the New Economic Policy food supply had increased tremendously, however, it was still not enough for carrying out the plan of industrialization. In the beginning of the 19th century, Russia exported 12 million tons of grain, however, in the best years of the NEP the amount never exceeded 3 million. It is for these reasons that USSR could not bring in the necessary technology required for industrial expansion.
In December 1927 the announcement of the first five year plan was made which marked the end of the NEP. By this time, USSR’s relations with both France and Poland had worsened and Britain had broken off all diplomatic relations. Stalin felt that the country was under threat. Due to his fear of invasion, he called for collectivisation where the peasantry were forced to give up their individual farms and join large collective farms. As they were large farms, there was an increasing need for machines. The more food that could be produced the better as the cities and factory workers could suitable be fed.
Stalin wanted the USSR to modernise at such a fast rate that it could make up the 50-year gap in 10 years. The industry had to be devoloped to such an extent that the country, which had all along depended mostly on agriculture or farming, had to be changed such that it now depended on industry more. Although Russia was recovering from war, its production from heavy industries was still low compared to other countries. Stalin felt that this needed to be improved if they were to survive any possible attack that might come from the capitalist West attempting to destroy Communist Russia.
There had been long and bitter debates and discussions regarding the new policy being adopted. Some people were convinced that USSR should have continued with NEP and that collectivization was merely ruining the country. Many peasants, rich or poor, were against collectivization to a great extent and responded in acts of sabotage including burning of crops. The land that they owned would merely be snatched away and free from ownership. The landless peasants, undoubtedly, were the biggest beneficiaries because it promised them an equal opportunity and rights of ownership. On the other hand, some people believed in the idea of collectivization. They were convinced that it was the only way regarding the industrialization and modernization of the country.
Collectivisation made it much easier for the state to procure the grain that it was desperately in need for. The large units of land could now be farmed more efficiently through the use of machines. With the introduction of machines, fewer peasant hands were required on land, and the surplus could work as labour in the new factories or industries.
Stalin adopted harsh measures to carry out collectivisation. In 1929 Stalin sped up the process because peasants refused to share their labour and would rather burn their crops and kill their animals instead of selling food to the government. The government had to apply force to make them join the collectives. Those who resisted were severely dealt with. At the same time, Stalin dealt with the rich class of peasants, the kulaks. As Stalin believed in Communism, the peasants of the “higher class” had to be eliminated. Stalin ordered these kulaks to hand over their land, houses and property to the government. Their crops, labour and machinery were to be distributed among the collectives. They were, however, not allowed to join the collectives and millions of these peasants were sent to labour camps or executed. Most kulaks resisted and destroyed their property, machinery, crops and animals so that the government would not be able to use it.
Collectivisation was also part of the Five Year Plan, but it was less successful than industrialisation. It did not fulfil its targets under the Plan and grain production even declined from 1928 to 1932. This caused widespread famine later on. However, at the same time, Collectivisation was a huge success as it made Russia's agriculture more efficient. The huge amount of mechanisation involved, the efficiency meant that many peasants left their farms and went to work in the industrial labour sector.
The Plan was also a success because they were able to rid themselves of the kulaks and move towards communism. Also, collectivisation put an end to private ownership of land. Land was nationalised and allowed peasants to own a small plot of land as a concession, to win their support.
