三年大饥荒, or the "Three Years of Great Famine," occurred in China from 1959 to 1961. It was a devastating period marked by widespread food shortages, primarily due to the policies of the 大跃进 (Great Leap Forward) initiated by the 中国共产党 (Chinese Communist Party). These policies aimed to rapidly industrialize the country but led to poor agricultural practices and mismanagement. The famine resulted in the deaths of millions of people, with estimates ranging from 15 to 45 million. The crisis highlighted the consequences of extreme political and economic strategies, leading to significant changes in China's agricultural policies in subsequent years.