CHANGES UNDER DENG XIAOPING IN AGRICULTURE

Sarah Aveline|Natalie Wong|Megan Lee|Kyle Tsang

Background InformationIn 1980 about 90% of PRC population lived in the countryside where radical reforms were a economical necessity by the end of 1970s. Greater agriculture was needed because the PRC relied on grain imports and the population was rising therefore they needed more food supply. 1977- Deng Xiaoping returned to power as the Deputy Chairman and Deputy Prime Minister of the Party

Agriculture was one of The Four Modernisations launched by Deng Xiaoping, in an aim to mark the beginning of a new Chinese Era.

What were the main Problems?Main concern- the need for China’s agriculture and industry

to improve and become modernised.

Deng’s plan- To increase the output in agriculture, resulting in him launching agriculture reforms in December 1978

Main Problem- Cooperative farms were failing to produce enough food for the Chinese population. Therefore leading China to import 13.7 millions tons of grain in 1982.

What happened- What were the Changes?The plots belonging to the peasants was increased in size

● Families were given responsibility for cultivating areas of land in their commune during the Responsibility System in 1978

● Contracts were signed with the promise to produce a fixed

value of food for sale to the state as well as selling any

leftovers at the market in order to gain profit

● The third plenum of the 11th central committee authorised reforms in rural areas

Local village markets, which had been prohibited since the 1960s were necessary, meaning farmers could grow

crops from profit, rather than only to fulfil government production and sell their produce to local markets

The CCP had become less hostile to at least limited capitalism to address certain economic crisis

Result of the Changes● 1983- China had 44,000 markets where food could be sold

privately by farmers● Income of agriculture workers tripled between 1977 and

1983 ● 1984- China’s grain harvest reached 400 millions tons- an

improvement in output● Improved standards of living after 1976, including- quantity

and quality of available food, incomes rising, household consumption rising, education expanded, vaccinations for children, water supplies and healthcare (medication)

Improvement of outputImprovement in the standard of livingLong term leases

Quiz - True or False

The Four Modernisations was launched by

Zhou Enlai

FALSE: It was launched by Deng Xiaoping

The Responsibility System was a system giving

families responsibility for cultivating areas of land in

their commune

TRUE

Plots belonging to the Peasants were decreased

in size so more farms could be created

FALSE: The plots belonging to the peasants was increased in

size

Farmers were now able to grow crops for profit

TRUE

During the result of the reform, the income of agriculture workers

decreased

FALSE: The income actually tripled between 1977 and

1983

Overall, China’s grain harvest reached 400

million tons which was an improvement in output

TRUE

After the reform, there was an improvement in quantity and quality of food, medical care, and

education was expanded

TRUE