Comments on the Report of the CPC Group of the Ministry of Agriculture Concerning the Winter Sowing Preparations Conference [1] (July 10, 1959)

To be circulated to all comrades for discussion. An additional telegram is to be sent to the Party committees of all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions.

Mao Zedong July 10 Based on the manuscript.

Notes [1] This report, submitted by the CPC Group of the Ministry of Agriculture to Mao Zedong and the CPC Central Committee on June 29, 1959, states that the Winter Sowing Preparations Conference was held from June 23 to 26, with participation from fourteen provinces and municipalities—such as Hebei and Shanghai—where winter sowing tasks were relatively heavy. The conference made the following points:

(1) The total wheat output for 1959 is projected at 70 billion jin, roughly equal to or slightly exceeding the actual figure for 1958, and about 50 percent higher than in 1957. This demonstrates that China’s agricultural production is capable of sustained leaps forward.

(2) The area sown to winter crops in 1959 is to be restored, in principle, to the level of 1957, with the aim of breaking the 100 billion jin mark for total wheat output in 1960.

(3) All localities are instructed to finalize their plans for autumn-sown winter wheat and other crops during July and the first half of August, ensuring that both acreage and yield targets are assigned to specific production units.

(4) Drawing on preliminary experience with dense planting of wheat this year, all participating provinces have proposed seed rates for this year’s winter wheat that are considerably higher than usual.

(5) Emphasis was placed on thorough preparatory work prior to winter sowing.

(6) In some southern areas where summer-crop grains such as wheat have not been given sufficient attention, it was recommended that local leaders take serious and resolute action to address this issue.

Furthermore, it was pointed out that leadership must be strengthened, a mass-line approach adopted, and farmers actively guided to make realistic, fact-based progress, building upon last year’s achievements.

On July 10, the Central Committee forwarded this report to the Party committees of all provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions.