Comments and Revisions on the Draft Directive from the Central Committee Regarding the Development of Non-Staple Food Production in the Suburbs of Large and Medium-Sized Cities [1] (July 3–4, 1959) I. This document [2], having been reviewed and amended, is a good one. Please read it through first before typing up the clean copy, and ensure there are no proofreading errors. If any corrections contain mistakes, simply read them aloud and make the changes on the spot; I will not review them again. Afterward, submit it to Comrades Liu, Zhou, Zhu, Tan Zhenlin, Peng Dehuai, and Hu Qiaomu [3] for their review. Then pass it on to Comrade Yang Shangkun [4] for printing and distribution to all comrades attending the meeting at Lushan. In addition, send it immediately by telegram to the party committees of all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions. Let there be no delay! — Mao Zedong, written in bed at 1:00 a.m. on July 3, and delivered to Li Xiannian. Printed according to the manuscript.

II. The party committees of large and medium-sized cities must draw up comprehensive plans for suburban agricultural production and strengthen their leadership. They should implement a policy of simultaneously advancing agriculture, industry, transportation, and commerce. While giving priority to industry—after all, that is the city’s main focus—they must also manage agriculture effectively; they must oversee both production and circulation. To facilitate circulation, appropriate transport facilities must be established. Although cities naturally prioritize industry, we are currently experiencing a severe shortage of non-staple foods, making it imperative to emphasize suburban agriculture. By “agriculture” here, we mean achieving a balanced development of farming, forestry, animal husbandry, sideline operations, and fisheries. Vegetables fall under farming, while pigs, cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, and rabbits belong to animal husbandry; aquatic products pertain to fisheries. Livestock and poultry need adequate feed to grow, which necessitates the production of both concentrated and roughage feeds—another aspect of agriculture. Grazing livestock requires forestland and pastures, thus calling for attention to forestry and grassland management. From this perspective, the production of non-staple foods involves all five sectors—farming, forestry, animal husbandry, sideline activities, and fisheries—each closely linked to the others and indispensable.

III. A state under the dictatorship of the proletariat can certainly ensure that its people have access to vegetables, edible oil, pork, fish, beef, mutton, chicken, duck, goose, rabbit, and eggs. We should possess the ambition and resolve to accomplish this socialist undertaking of great political and economic significance, and we should have full confidence in our ability to do so. Everything must be done in the interests of the people. Upon receiving this directive, party committees at all levels are urged to plan meticulously and begin implementation without delay. Not only large and medium-sized cities, but also county seats and township markets should follow suit. Each party committee should designate a secretary specifically responsible for non-staple food issues or assign dedicated cadres to this task. Printed based on documents of the CPC Central Committee. (Includes Mao Zedong’s revisions.)

IV. To the Party Committees of All Provinces, Municipalities, and Autonomous Regions: The Central Committee has approved Comrade Li Xiannian’s report on the meeting he chaired in Shanghai to thoroughly resolve the problems of non-staple food supplies and handicrafts [ ], as well as the draft directive prepared on behalf of the Central Committee [ ]. These are now being transmitted to you; please carry out their provisions fully and conscientiously. The directive concerning non-staple foods will be issued first, followed by the one on handicrafts [7]. Issued by the CPC Central Committee on July 4, 1959, based on official documents. (Includes Mao Zedong’s handwritten notes.)

Notes [1] This section (I) consists of comments on the draft directive regarding the development of non-staple food production in the suburbs of large and medium-sized cities, prepared by Li Xiannian on behalf of the Central Committee. Sections (II) and (III) contain revisions to that draft, with text typeset in Song typeface representing additions and alterations made by Mao Zedong. Section (IV) is a notice drafted by Mao Zedong on behalf of the Central Committee, forwarding the aforementioned directives along with Li Xiannian’s report on the national conference concerning the production of non-staple foods and handicrafts in large and medium-sized cities. [2] Refers to the draft directive on non-staple food production in suburban areas, prepared by Li Xiannian. The draft states that, in order to alleviate the acute shortage of non-staple foods as soon as possible, the Central Committee hereby issues the following instructions: First, the fundamental solution to the problem of non-staple food supply in large and medium-sized cities lies in promoting coordinated urban-rural development and organizing the expansion of non-staple food production. Large and medium-sized cities should firmly adhere to the principle of “self-reliance as the primary approach, supplemented by external assistance.” Second, vigorous efforts must be made to develop suburban bases for non-staple food production, clearly defining the production guidelines for these areas. Every suburban region should be tasked with supplying non-staple foods to the city. Third, the development of suburban non-staple food production should be centered on vegetables and pork, using them as the mainstay to drive overall progress. Fourth, a policy of combining public and private initiatives should be implemented, pursuing a dual-track approach: both state-owned and collectively operated enterprises should engage in non-staple food production, while individual commune members are also permitted to raise livestock and poultry and engage in other forms of non-staple food production. Fifth, the mobilization of the masses is essential for developing suburban non-staple food production; work should proceed step by step, making do with available resources and gradually overcoming difficulties. Sixth, effective measures must be taken to procure and distribute non-staple foods. Seventh, the party committees of large and medium-sized cities must make comprehensive plans for suburban agricultural production, strengthen their leadership, and implement a policy of simultaneously advancing agriculture, industry, transportation, and commerce. Eighth, efforts to expand non-staple food production in the suburbs of large and medium-sized cities must in no way weaken non-staple food production in the broader rural areas; on the contrary, such production should continue to be reinforced. The CPC Central Committee issued this directive on July 4, 1959. [ ] Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. Zhu refers to Zhu De. Tan Zhenlin was then a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council. Peng Dehuai was a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council. Hu Qiaomu was a candidate member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Mao Zedong’s secretary. [4] Yang Shangkun was a candidate member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee. [ ] Refers to Li Xiannian’s report dated July 2, 1959, submitted to Mao Zedong and the Central Committee regarding the national conference on the production of non-staple foods and handicrafts in large and medium-sized cities. The report states that from June 18 to 23, a national conference on non-staple food and handicraft production was held in Shanghai. With respect to non-staple food production, the conference unanimously agreed that the overarching principle should be urban-rural coordination: while the countryside should vigorously support the cities by expanding its own non-staple food output, large and medium-sized cities themselves should also adopt the policy of “self-reliance as the primary approach, supplemented by external assistance.” As for handicrafts, the immediate priority is to restore the variety and quality of everyday handicrafts to the levels prevailing before August of last year, striving to exceed those levels in terms of quantity, no later than National Day. Regarding the ownership structure of handicraft industries, the basic principle should be to leave most enterprises unchanged and make only minor adjustments, maintaining the status quo wherever possible. Only a small number of units need to revert to collective ownership, while a few others may return to individual proprietorship. Handicraft products, service methods, production processes, and forms of ownership must all be diversified to meet actual needs. Simultaneously with restoring and developing handicrafts, reorganization of commune industries is required. [ ] Namely, the draft directive on non-staple food production in suburban areas of large and medium-sized cities, prepared by Li Xiannian on behalf of the Central Committee. See note [2] above. [7] The CPC Central Committee’s directive on handicrafts was issued on August 5, 1959.