On the steppes of northern Kazakhstan, a collective farm town called Chilinka Sovkhoz crumbles, abandoned. The 250,000-acre farm was once home to over 60,000 livestock (mostly sheep, but also ...

A nearby "sovkhoz," or state farm, was the main job provider, explains Aleksandrovich to RFE/RL's Siberian Desk. "There was enough work for everyone. I haven't lived in this house the whole time.

Simply sign up to the Global Economy myFT Digest -- delivered directly to your inbox. The harvest workers at Sovkhoz Lenina carry the apples to the trailer one bucket at a time. Soon the ripe load ...