Research On Farmland Water Conservancy Construction In Shanxi Province During The Great Leap Forward

The article aims to analyze the irrigation and water conservancy construction in Shanxi,during 1957 — 1960.On the ground that it has become a routine of developing large-scale mass of farmland water conservancy construction in spring and autumn every year,we select the winter of 1957 as start point.Choosing this subject as my Master's thesis based on several reasons: Firstly,Irrigation and water conservancy construction mattering human existence,economic development and social progress,which has always been an event to promote agricultural production and national security.Secondly,the importance of "The great leap forward" period on the farmland water conservancy history course of early years of the founding.In old China irrigation and water conservancy was neglected,the establishment of new China changed the backward production relations and opened up a road for the development of irrigation and water conservancy.Given the strong appeal of natural disasters and the fundamental position of agriculture in national economy,from the winter of 1957,a nationwide large-scale irrigation and water conservancy construction movement gradually formed.Thirdly,farmland water conservancy construction of "the great leap forward" period in Shanxi has not been thoroughly researched until now.In this thesis,I just want to do some beneficial exploration and try to make a study in this field.The farmland water conservancy construction of "the great leap forward" period was carried out under the national unified deployment and requirements,however,which had been seared the mark of special characteristics of Shanxi Province.The scarcity of water resources made Shanxi remain at a disadvantage in resource allocation because of its complicated location,terrain,and climate.The fundamental purpose of farmland water conservancy construction in Shanxi was mainly used on irrigation and drought-prevention.Shanxi had suffered the most severe drought since the establishment of new China in the autumn of 1957.Governments at all levels in Shanxi called on their people to make great efforts on drought-relief and seedling protection in order to reduce the harmful influence on daily life.Consequentially,governments launched extensive campaigns on construction of water conservancy works which included excavator of wells and hydraulic projects.Lots of problems should be solved without delay during the developmental period of the large-scale construction of water conservancy works,such as moral conflicts,labor famine and technical staff shortages,difficulties in the supply of capital and raw materials.The development of irrigation and water conservancy construction in Shanxi is bas ed on the demand of the advancement of local agriculture during "the great leap forwa rd" period.Even without the background of "the great leap forward",the process of fa rmland water conservancy construction is also imperative in Shanxi province.The gre at achievements of farmland water conservancy construction are visible during this pe riod,not only developing the large-scale movement and sufficient motivation,but also building numbers of large and medium-sized water conservancy projects,which have been playing an important role till now.Under the context of "the great leap forward" climax,however,it was inevitable for people to pursue high index at random.Irrigati on and water conservancy construction beyond the actual ability of Shanxi Province at that time,some water conservancy projects only pursued quantity but ignored the qua lity,which gave us a profound lesson.The article implements an investigation towards farmland water conservancy construction of "the great leap forward" period in Shanxi,and has made explanation and analysis towards government organization and mobilization in the process of irrigation and water conservancy construction,and the difficulties encountered in the construction of as well as the achievements and failures,endeavoring to sort out the development context and make people know the history more objectively.