I don't speak english well, can you explian what this text means?

"Mao's first experiences with revolutions by farmers did teach him about the possible big political power of the farmer population. He believed that if organized well and inspired well, the Chinese people could do amazing things. Beginning in the middle of the 1950s, Mao spoke in favor of the fast organization of group farming, explaining that the energy of the people could help China get a high level of Communist growth. This political idea became important in the economic and social campaign called "The Great Leap Forward" in 1958. Mao encouraged all Chinese to participate enthusiastically in manual labor to change the economy, and beat the Western countries in industrial and farming production within a few years. Afraid to displease their leaders, farmers made up false numbers about their grain harvests. Several bad harvests led to a big shortage of food, and led to millions of people dying throughout China."