The major factor behind the Great Chinese Famine in the late 1950s was the disastrous implementation of the Great Leap Forward. Aimed at rapidly industrializing China, this campaign prioritized collectivization and communal farming, which led to severe agricultural disruptions. Poor planning, unrealistic production targets, and the suppression of information about crop failures and food shortages exacerbated the situation. Consequently, between 1959 and 1961, it is estimated that tens of millions of people perished due to starvation and malnutrition, marking one of the deadliest famines in history.