Question

why did stalin introduce collectivisation?

Answer 1

Acute shortages of grain supplies and outdated mode of production on small land holdings led Stalin to introduce the system of collectivisation.

Under collectivisation, land was taken away from peasants, Kulaks eliminated and large state controlled farms established. Peasants were forced to cultivate on these collective farms (Kolkboz).

Large size of farms enabled introduction of modern techniques and machinery. Land and implements were transferred to the ownership of the collective farms. A profit of the farms was to be shared among the peasants.

Many peasants resisted collectivisation. Resistance was severely punished. Many peasants were deported or exiled.

Collectivisation however did not lead to increase in production immediately.

Answer 2

 Stalin believed that changing the organisation of agriculture would prodigiously increase the efficiency of farming. Collectivisation, hence the introduction of collectives, would mean that the mir [peasant strip farms] would be amalgamated and this would enable the sharing of resources such as machinery between the collective farms instead of the small peasant holdings. The mechanised equipment itself would capacitate the extraction of greater surpluses than the peasant strip farms. Hence, this would allow for economies of scale due to the lower costs per unit, which would serve as the essence to the increase in agrarian efficiency. Similarly, the collectivisation of farms would enable efficiency for the human resources of Stalin, such that fewer communist officials would be required to handle the collective farms, and there would be more direct supervision. This would mean it would be easier to control any opposition and to isolate any illegal activity.