Deng Xiaoping's economic reforms in China began with farming because agriculture was the foundation of the Chinese economy at that time. By focusing on reforming and modernizing the agriculture sector, Deng aimed to increase productivity, improve living standards for farmers, and boost food production to address China's chronic food shortages. Additionally, agricultural reforms served as a catalyst for broader economic changes in other sectors, as successful reforms in farming could provide a model for reform in other areas of the economy.
