r/OldSchoolCool • u/dawidlijewski • 1d ago

1980s Successful Polish private farmer, 1980

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Agriculture was never collectivized in communist Poland, so private farms could exist. Those lucky enough to have fertile soil and good market connections could earn very good money through hard work and smart investment decisions. This farmer owns a house, a car, a dishwasher, and a color TV, and could even afford vacations in Hungary.

https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/zmywarka-w-domu-rolnika-dotarlismy-do-bohatera-sesji-zdjeciowej-z-1980-roku-6457768192861825a

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

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u/neptunereach 15h ago

I don’t think you can have vacations if you are farmer. Maybe if you grow crops only, then late autumn- winter is free for you. But if you own any animals you are permanently tied to your farm. I don’t think he could employ people to his farm under socialism/communism.

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u/Stahwel 14h ago

Of course he could employ people, agriculture was the only properly functioning area of Polish economy at that time

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u/neptunereach 14h ago

Ok. Didn’t know that. I though this was similar to Ussr

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u/MBkufel 14h ago

Poland never went through the agricultural reform, it was much different than the USSR.