In the Soviet Union after Stalin gulaged, starved, murdered or drove into exile the Kulaks (Peasant Farmers) the Soviets needed to replace them to keep up food production.
So they assigned city folk to be farmers & shipped them to the countryside.
Problem solved, right?
(X) number of people liquidated,
(X) number of people replaced!
It was a disaster.
Millions starved.
The State & the Soviet Mindset couldn't admit a mistake or adapt as millions starved.
Machinists can't "farm at will."