More farming help likely for China

Press, 28 August 1979, Page 3

More farming help likely for China

The model farm ‘which New Zealand agricultural consultants will almost certainly establish in Kwangsi province, in the south of China, may not be the only such Chinese project in which New Zealand will help. This information was given yesterday by the principal of Lincoln College (Professor J. D. Stewart) when he returned to Christchurch after accompanying a New Zealand mission to China, which was led by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Maclntyre). 't was Professor Stewart’s secpnd visit to China in recent months. Earlier he went with representatives of three New Zealand firms’ engaged in agricultural consultancy to investigate the possibility of establishing a model farm in southern China, using Nj.w Zealand methods of livestock and pastoral deveb. opment. • Professor Stewart said yesterday that after three days negotiation during Mr Maclntyre’s visit a memorandum of agreement had been signed between the Chinese and the group of New Zealand firms. This was not a contract, but it had the blessing of one of China’s Deputy Prime Ministers (Madartie Chen)

and also the Minister of Agriculture.' It was felt that jt represented a deep commitment on the. part of the Chinest?. The next step would be for the Chinese to draft a contract. It would be submitted through the New .Zealand Embassy, and it was Expected that- this would be Signed, in Qctober. The project" is,, expected to be launched, .early next year. The site of the'project is in a sub-tropical .part of China. After;-'his first visit Professor Steyvart 1 ; said that it .did nqt haVe an environment .suited to New Zealand pasture? species, and livestock, , ■ ■ ’

However, .he said yesterdaythat towards 'the end of their'lates&mjssion they had been told that New, Zealarfd wottld almost certainly be -it; ir : l_

invited to set up a siinilar project in the northern part of the country, where this country’s grasses and livestock would be more suitable. “I think that the most impressive thing that came out of our visit is that the Chinese identify New Zealand as a country they want to as'ociate vyith ; in their pastoral and livestock development,” said Professor Stewart: They might also be nego-, tiating with other countries for assistance, but he did not think that they had gone' that far with -anyone else,, i The model farm in southern China will be of 1200 ha. > Mr J. C. Patersop, a director of Pyne Gould, Guinness, Ltd, who was, also a member of Mr. Maclntyre’s mission, said there was obviously a great depth of friendship between New Zealand and China and a genu .ie feeling that they wished to work with New Zealand. With his special interest in seeds. Mr Paterson said it had been gratifying to hear favourable reports on samples of seeds, and on technical information that had been sent to China some years ago. The potential of China was immense, and there ‘were areas as large as New Zealand capable of improvement. , Already, there was trade 'between the two countries in items such as livestock and seeds, but the potential for .trade >was -felso “exciting,” said Mr Paterson.