Farm policy studies

Press, 27 February 1981, Page 14

Farm policy studies

The council of Massey University at Palmerston North has approved the establishment of a centre for agricultural policy studies. The centre will be associated with the university's department of agricultural economics and farm man-. agement It will undertake’ and promote studies and research, sponsor seminars and workshops, and publish findings and views (including divergent views) under the leadership of Dr E. ALOjala, who will be director. The centre was proposed by Professor R. J. Townsley, head of the university’s department of agricultural economics and farm management, who cited the interest which had been generated by the department’s recent stud"ies in agricultural policy. These studies had included an evaluation of New Zealand’s import and export policies in relation to development, a study of incentives and disincentives in farm production, and estimates of the future growth of agriculture in New Zealand and in relation to world' needs, '•

Professor Townsley said that the agricultural policy papers, in which these studies had appeared, “were purchased by a wide range of official bodies and business firms, both national and international, testifying to the demand for this type of research.” An advisory board to provide a link with organisations having a role in agricultural policy is to be set up. At first the centre will have a staff of five with two existing faculty members — Professor & ft, Bae aad

C. W. Maughan — as deputy director and senior research officer respectively. Dr Ojala, who took up his new responsibility on January 1, is a New Zealander and former Assistant Director General in charge of the Economic and Social Policy Department of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations from 1970 to 1976. He has held other important posts involving agricultural policy making in New Zealand and abroad. He has lately been assisting Massey University in the development of its work on agricultural policy as a senior research fellow. His recent publication, “New Zealand in the Future World Food Economy,” has attracted the favourable attention of scholars, economists and the media. His recommendation for. the three-year appointment to direct the centre is the result, Professor Townsley.says, of the work he has done at Massey: “Our research efforts have benefited enormously from his wide experience and .