Changes first began in the countryside, in late 1978, when instead of being obliged to turn over all of their produce to the state, peasants were instead given a fixed quota to fulfill and the freedom to do whatever they wished with the surplus. The policy stimulated rural production considerably and helped improve the lives of some of mainland China's peasants, who make up 80 % of the country's population.
一九七八年底，中共宣佈「經濟改革」，首先由農村改革下手，放鬆管制，除了規定繳交的數量外，其餘收成可自由處理，代替以往全部「上繳」的規定，刺激了農民的耕作意願，使得產量大增。目前農民佔大陸總人口的百分之八十，農業改革，改善了人民的生活。