Instruction on the Method of Fixed Quotas for Delivery to Higher Levels
(16 March 1961)

Distribute to all comrades[2] for discussion by each group as to whether this method can be promoted in various localities.

Mao Zedong
March 16

[This instruction was written on the investigation report submitted on March 15, 1961, by Tao Zhu, First Secretary of the Central-South Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and First Secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee, concerning the trial implementation of fixed quotas for delivery to higher levels by production teams (small teams) in Lixi Brigade, Dali Commune, Nanhai County. The investigation materials stated that after the rectification of work style and the commune, the masses’ enthusiasm for production and the operational initiative of the brigade and production teams had greatly increased, but there were still grievances among production teams. Teams with good production felt that they could not eat more despite exceeding the quota, while teams that had reduced production still received grain according to the same standard as themselves—this was evidence that the “communist wind” had not been thoroughly eliminated. To resolve this issue, Lixi Brigade experimented with a method based on the “three guarantees” and “four fixations,” and on the principle of unified distribution across the entire brigade, whereby each production team’s fixed quota for delivery to the brigade was set in stone. After fulfilling the delivery quota, all surplus output would be entirely at the production team’s own disposal. After this method was implemented, the production initiative of cadres and commune members in all production teams was further mobilized, and the production outlook of the entire brigade was completely transformed.

[2] Refers to the comrades then attending the CPC Central Committee Work Conference in Guangzhou.