I'm not so certain, however, that the previous failures can be directly attributed to central planning? It seems officials were too afraid to come forward about issues regarding food production, due to repercussions of admitting failure. But this might not be inherent to central planning: the authoritarian nature of the state, punishments for admitting failure and perverse incentives causing officials to report success likely were more direct precursors of this outcome.

I would love to hear other opinions on this.