Comments on Promoting the Experience of Xushui County in Achieving Irrigation and Water Conservancy Development in Farmland
(March 21, 1958)
This document, together with Tan Zhenlin’s report,[1] should be discussed. The experience of Xushui County is to be widely disseminated.
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Refers to Chen Zhengren, Deputy Minister of the CPC Central Committee’s Rural Work Department and Deputy Director of the State Council’s Office of Agriculture and Forestry.
On March 14, 1958, a report was submitted to Deng Xiaoping and Peng Zhen, with copy to Mao Zedong and other leading comrades of the Central Committee, concerning the situation in Xushui County, Hebei Province, regarding the achievement of irrigation and water conservancy development in farmland. The report stated that, starting from November 1957, Xushui County had, through three months of arduous effort, completed the transformation of its farmland into irrigated land. The county’s three major rivers had been essentially controlled, and all 860,000 mu of cultivated land were equipped with one to three sets of irrigation facilities. A distinctive feature of Xushui’s water conservancy projects was the establishment, under the policy of mass participation in building agricultural water infrastructure, of a comprehensive water management system based on small-scale works, integrating large, medium, and small projects, which simultaneously served flood control, drainage, and irrigation purposes. The report also outlined several experiences gained by the Xushui County CPC Committee in leading the upsurge in water conservancy construction: (1) In the face of a mass movement, first emphasize a great liberation of thought. (2) Adopt a combat-style work approach—say it and do it, and persevere to the end. (3) Identify model units, learn from them, and catch up with them. (4) Strengthen the front lines and ensure that all work is carried out directly at the site. (5) Uphold the principle of combining individual responsibility with collective leadership. (6) Strive to integrate the central tasks with the work of various departments.[2]
Refers to a report delivered on March 13, 1958, by Tan Zhenlin, Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Secretariat, on preliminary arrangements for water conservancy construction under the Second Five-Year Plan.

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In March 1958, Mao Zedong conducted an inspection tour in Sichuan.
In March 1958, Mao Zedong inspected the Hongguang Agricultural Production Cooperative in Guo County, Sichuan.
In March 1958, Mao Zedong inspected the Hongguang Agricultural Cooperative in Leshan County, Sichuan.
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In March 1958, while inspecting the Hongguang Agricultural Cooperative, Mao Zedong posed with some children.
In March 1958, Mao Zedong visited the Xingfu Commune and engaged in conversation with farmer Gao Boran.
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In March 1958, Mao Zedong inspected the Hongguang Agricultural Cooperative and had a cordial talk with cooperative member Madame Wen Da.
In March 1958, Mao Zedong picked bitter vegetables in the bitter vegetable field of the Lianhua No. 1 Brigade in Xincheng Township, Dujiangyan County, Sichuan.
“Visiting a Cooperative Member’s Home” (Chinese painting)
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On March 21, 1958, Mao Zedong visited Dujiangyan in Sichuan to inspect the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and viewed a model of the water conservancy plan.
On March 21, 1958, Mao Zedong examined a model of the Dujiangyan Irrigation Project.
On March 21, 1958, Mao Zedong inspected the Dujiangyan Irrigation System.
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