Comments and Revisions on the Draft Directive of the CPC Central Committee Concerning the Change in the Basic Accounting Unit of Rural People’s Communes [1] (February 11, 1962) To Comrade Tian Jiaying [2], with a copy to Comrade Xiaoping [3], and to Liu and Zhou [4]: It would be advisable to revise this to “at least thirty years” [ ]. The Soviet Union has now been following this system for forty-three years [ ], yet its agriculture has still not passed the test; our country may likewise require several decades before it can do so. Mao Zedong, Shanghai, February 11. Printed from the manuscript. In the vast majority of rural areas throughout our country, taking production teams as the basic accounting units and implementing a three-tier collective ownership system based on these teams will not be accomplished in the short term. Rather, it will constitute a fundamental institutional arrangement to be maintained over a prolonged period—say, at least thirty years. Printed according to Mao Zedong’s revised version.

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Notes [1] The main contents of the draft directive of the CPC Central Committee concerning the change in the basic accounting unit of rural people’s communes are as follows: First, the results of surveys and pilot projects conducted nationwide over the past three months regarding the issue of the basic accounting unit in rural people’s communes have demonstrated that the view put forward by the Central Committee and by Mao Zedong—that production teams should serve as the basic accounting units—is entirely in line with the demands of the broad masses of peasants and grassroots cadres and has won their support and approval. Changing the basic accounting unit has become an imperative in the vast majority of rural areas across the country. Adopting production teams as the basic accounting units offers numerous advantages: (1) It can more thoroughly overcome egalitarianism among production teams. (2) The production teams’ autonomy in organizing production is thereby well safeguarded. (3) This arrangement is better suited to the current level of consciousness among farmers. (4) It is more conducive to improving the management of the collective economy. Second, in most people’s communes throughout the country, it is appropriate to take production teams as the basic accounting units. However, with regard to the overall structure of the people’s communes, uniformity should not be imposed. At present, two main forms will generally coexist: either taking production teams as the basic accounting units or continuing to use production brigades as such. Regardless of which form is adopted, it must be done on the principles of voluntariness and mutual benefit. In the vast majority of rural areas of our country, the implementation of a three-tier collective ownership system based on production teams will be a fundamental institutional arrangement to be maintained over a long period—no less than thirty years. This point should be repeatedly explained to the broad ranks of rural cadres and peasant masses. Third, even after the basic accounting unit is changed to the production team, the people’s commune remains a complete collective economic organization. Within the commune, unified leadership and tiered management will continue to be practiced, and the production team will still be an integral part of the production brigade-level economic organization. The production brigade will continue to exercise unified leadership over the entire brigade area, functioning as a joint economic organization for all production teams; it will not only carry out economic functions but also, under the leadership of the commune, perform administrative duties. Fourth, following the devolution of the basic accounting unit, the superiority of the agricultural collective economy will primarily be manifested at the level of the production team. Compared with the past, the production team’s powers in financial management and distribution have been expanded, and its authority in production and business operations has also increased, thus making its responsibilities even greater. It must both properly plan production and conduct unified accounting of income and expenditure; it must effectively organize production while also managing finances; it must actively fulfill the state’s procurement tasks for agricultural products, and at the same time ensure a good standard of living for the commune members. Fifth, adjusting the basic accounting unit is a major event in rural economic life. In carrying out this work, the following issues should be properly addressed: (1) scale; (2) cadres; (3) land; (4) draft animals and farm implements; (5) brigade-level enterprises; (6) forests; (7) water conservancy facilities; (8) debts. Sixth, efforts to adjust the basic accounting unit in rural areas should be undertaken without delay; it is better to act early rather than late. The Central Committee calls upon all localities to strive to complete this work roughly around the time when spring plowing begins. Throughout the process of changing the basic accounting unit, meticulous work must be carried out from start to finish. There should be thorough preparation and a step-by-step approach. First, carefully conducted pilot projects should be undertaken to gain experience, after which the reform can be gradually extended in stages. A rush to implement it all at once must be avoided. [2] Tian Jiaying was then Deputy Director of the Political Research Office of the CPC Central Committee and Mao Zedong’s secretary. [3] Xiaoping refers to Deng Xiaoping, who at that time served as General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council. [4] Liu refers to Liu Shaoqi. Zhou refers to Zhou Enlai. [ ] In the draft directive submitted by Tian Jiaying to Mao Zedong on February 8, 1962, concerning the change in the basic accounting unit of rural people’s communes, the duration during which the new arrangement would remain unchanged was initially set at “for example, within forty years.” In his accompanying report to Mao Zedong, Tian noted that Deng Xiaoping “advocated setting this period at twenty years. Whether to write ‘forty years’ or ‘at least twenty years,’ please let the Chairman decide.” Mao Zedong revised “within forty years” in the draft directive to “at least thirty years.” See section (2) of this document. [ ] Counting from the victory of the October Revolution in Russia in 1917, it would be forty-four years.