>There's no alternate history where different government policy in China could have completely averted the famine of 1960. It was a very poor year agriculturally.

Except the one where China hasn't destroyed much of its industry, or alienated much of the world, and thus can trade for food.

Your examples are illustrative as well, inspite of your intention - the next three famines you list (1942, 1936, 1929) all occurred during a civil war in which Mao was a major player on one side, and at a time when part of the country was at war with/under occupation of imperial Japan.