Peasants were required to provide workers, food and food for export as well, in order for Russia to get foreign currencies allowing them to buy machines from other countries. Under the New Economic Policy (NEP) run by the capitalist lines: each peasant ran his own holding for his own profits. With this policy, Kulaks did well until Stalin started, "collectivization." One which combined all the small farms of a village into on large unit. In theory more efficiently ran because larger fields abled the use of machines, fertilizers, and more modern farming methods. Unfortunately, this actually also meant a great extension of State control on the peasants. If there wasn't enough food left for the collective itself the peasants got nothing. Famine quickly spread over the countryside where around three million people died. Stalin did not care as productivity came before human rights.
Moreover, although the peasants disliked collectivization, the Kulaks hated it. Stalin attacked them in 1928. He accused them of being, "enemies of the State," and of, "disrupting the economy." When the secret police arrived to a village, the Kulaks were arrested and sent away to either a remote area like Siberia or to labour camps. Where both women and men worked, by hand, in terrible conditions. Those who resisted were shot. Kulaks were eradicated. Most of the 4 million died as a result of Stalin's policy. As for Stalin, agriculture could now play its part in the modernization of Russia. .
Stalin also used the NKVD against leading communists. He could not tolerate any cristicism or rivalry. In December 1934, the popular Communist Party boss of Leninguard, Sergei Kirov, was coincidently killed in a car accident most likely arranged by Stalin. Nevertheless, he put the blame on several other leading communists. One by one, the old Bolsheviks were arrested, some shot, others forced to confess to ridiculous charges after torture in order to be saved or to save their families.