The first experiments with the contract system in agriculture began as
early as collectivisation - roughly the same time as the massive introduction
of elementary co-operatives. In 1956, various forms of production
responsibility systems, including management responsibility
systems and contracting of output and cost, were created and operated
experimentally within Yongjia county and Ruian county of Zhejiang
province, Fengyang county of Anhui province, Yuci county of Shanxi
province and Jiangjing county of Sichuan province. 'Contracting everything
to the household' (Baogan Daohu) was widespread in Henan
province in 1959 and in the southwest and northwest areas in 1964. In
1961, about 85 per cent of production teams had adopted various forms
of production responsibility systems.