The Chinese famine of 1959-1961 was one of the deadliest famines in history, with an estimated 36-45 million people dying from starvation and related causes. The famine was caused by a combination of social, economic, and environmental factors that combined to create disastrous conditions for China’s population.
The primary cause of the Chinese famine was a series of extreme weather events that took place during the late 1950s, culminating in the Great Chinese Drought of 1959-1961. This drought was the result of extremely dry conditions across much of China during this period, as well as a lack of rainfall due to unfavorable atmospheric circumstances such as El Nino and La Nina. This drought was then exacerbated by extreme temperatures during the summer of 1959-1960, which further diminished food production. Such unusually dry and hot conditions across China, and particularly in the central plains, had a devastating effect on crop production in the country. In some areas, the temperature reached as high as 45˚C (113˚F), while rains were often sparse or nonexistent even in regions that would normally receive enough rainfall to sustain agriculture. This lack of precipitation meant that even fields with adequate soil moisture were unable to produce sufficient yields to sustain the population.
Political and economic policies implemented by the Chinese government also contributed to the famine. Despite warnings from both the Chinese and international community, the Chinese government implemented the Great Leap Forward in 1958, which was an economic policy meant to rapidly accelerate industrialization in China. This policy involved large-scale extractive projects and over-ambitious agricultural goals, such as the mobilization of citizens into collectives to produce steel for increasing industrial output. However, these ambitious goals were not feasible in the short time frames set out by the government, resulting in a failure to meet projected goals and leading to a decrease in incentives for agricultural production. The demand for increased industrial output also led to the destruction of many rural infrastructure, such as irrigation systems, which further impeded agricultural production.
Additionally, the Chinese government’s food redistribution efforts also had a significant impact. During the famine, it was believed that surplus grain could be found in the south of China and redistributed to the poorer northern parts of the country. As such, many grains and other foodstuffs were shipped northward, resulting in a decrease in essential food supplies in the south. The redistribution system was also highly inefficient, and most of the grain did not make it to its intended locations.
The Chinese famine was also caused by flaws in the existing farming system. At the time, most farms in China employed small-scale, traditional methods of cultivation, such as primitive tools and techniques, which greatly reduced the productivity of the land. Furthermore, the majority of farms employed communal ownership, with families working together to produce what little food they could. This system resulted in a high level of competition between different families, with some taking advantage of others to increase their own yields. Additionally, China’s agricultural sector was still largely isolated from the rest of the world and unable to benefit from technological advancements in agriculture, meaning that traditional farming methods failed to increase productivity.
Finally, a lack of effective leadership and preparedness to combat the famine also contributed significantly to the death toll. Despite the severity of the situation and increasing evidence of widespread famine, the Chinese government refused to acknowledge the extent of the problem or take steps to alleviate the suffering of its people. This refusal to recognize the scope of the crisis meant that aid and relief efforts during the famine were vastly inadequate and unable to prevent the massive loss of life.
In conclusion, the Chinese famine of 1959-1961 was caused by a combination of natural and man-made factors. Bad weather, including an extreme drought and hot temperatures, dramatically decreased food production and exacerbated the already precarious agricultural situation in the country. Unfavorable government policies, such as the Great Leap Forward, further decreased food production and disrupted the food redistribution system. Additionally, traditional farming methods and a lack of external aid and resources also hindered any attempts to stave off the famine. Finally, a lack of adequate leadership and recognition of the problem meant that the crisis was never adequately addressed, resulting in the loss of millions of lives.