A New Chapter in Agriculture: Agricultural Cooperatives and Land Reform

This book covers the origins of agricultural collectivization; Mao Zedong’s support for agricultural collectivization; the Central Committee’s adoption of a resolution on mutual aid and cooperation; Geng Changsuo’s founding of the first cooperative; the promotion of Li Shunda as an example of mutual aid and cooperation; the vigorous establishment of mutual-aid organizations across the country; the Central Committee’s policy of steady progress; its review of experience with mutual aid and cooperation; the peak of agricultural collectivization; Mao Zedong’s call to accelerate its development; the emergence of new people and a new ethos in the cooperatives; the drive to bring agricultural collectivization to its peak; Mao Zedong’s editing of books on agricultural cooperation; the story of the growth of the Bianhai Township cooperative; Mao Zedong’s praise for outstanding cooperatives; his faith in the cooperatives’ potential; the gains and losses of agricultural collectivization; the implementation of land reform policy; Mao Zedong’s proposal to begin land reform; Liu Shaoqi’s proposal for a general line on land reform; Mao Zedong’s cautious handling of the rich-peasant question, and more.