Why did Mao lose the peasant support?

Mao Zedong lost peasant support primarily due to the adverse effects of the Great Leap Forward, which led to widespread famine and economic dislocation. The harsh collectivization policies and forced labor practices alienated many rural communities. Additionally, the government's failure to address the immediate needs of the peasants, coupled with increased repression and lack of food, eroded trust and loyalty to Mao's regime. This discontent ultimately weakened the Communist Party's support base among the very population it sought to empower.