1976 Harvest Festival Czechoslovakia Communist Farming Celebration Pin Badge

Narodni Dozinky were celebrated throughout the former communist states. It marked the end to a successful harvest and was followed by a feast and celebrations. Although these pin badges are of communist origin, the celebration was held in pre-Christian Slavic festivals prior to the 16th century. 

After WW2 and the rise to power of communism in Czechoslovakia farms were turned into agricultural cooperatives (Jednotne zemedelske druzstvo) or JZD

The transfer of privately owned farms and land to the state was implemented in 4 progressive stages.

1949-1952 (stage 1) where land was confiscated from Germans, Hungarians and any former axis country land owners.

1953-1956 (stage 2) no person was allowed to own over 150Ha of agricultural land, any surplus became the property of the state.

1956-1969 (stage 3) no family could own more than 50Ha of agricultural land.

Finally all private land ownership was made illegal and the state became all land.

Many early cooperatives collapsed and were recreated again. Their productivity was low since they provided tiny salaries and no pensions, and they failed to create a sense of collective ownership. Seeing the massive outflow of people from agriculture into cities, the government heavily subsidized the cooperatives in order to make the standard of living of farmers equal to that of city inhabitants. Funds, machinery, and fertilizers were provided; young people from villages were forced to study agriculture; and students were regularly sent (involuntarily) to help in cooperatives.

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. Every piece of land was cultivated regardless of the expense involved, and the soil became heavily polluted with chemicals.

By the 1980's the communist regime was on the point of collapse, JZDs no longer received the equipment and subsidies they needed and the system broke down entirely.