More China farm links likely

Press, 19 October 1982, Page 38

More China farm links likely

NZPA Hong Kong A New Zealand consortium of agricultural consultants is poised to increase significantly its involvement in the development of pastoral farming in China. Discussions which could involve China-New Zealand Agricultural Consultants (C.H.N.Z.A.G.C.0.) in three new projects will take place soon when a Chinese delegation visits New Zealand. C.H.N.Z.A.G.C.O. is already involved with the development of a model beef farm and a sheep demonstration farm in China. The new possibilities, which include a pasture seeds project which has been under consideration for some time, were scanned by C.H.N.Z.A.G.C.O.’s chairman. Mr D. M. O'Connor, during a just-completed five week visit to China. The development of agriculture has been given top priority under China’s “four modernisations” programme, but according to Mr O’Connor, the effort so far has been in the production of

grains such as rice and wheat. “Now the Chinese are looking for ways to improve their livestock farming. They are looking at the potential of marginal land which is unsuitable for grain,” he said. Much emphasis is expected to be placed on dairy production. but the Chinese — already major importers of woof — are keen to also increase the wool clip from an estimated 200 million sheep, three times the New Zealand sheep population. C.H.N.Z.A.G.C.O. is an Auckland-based consortium formed in early 1980 by Agrico Developments of N.Z.. Anzdec, and Ashworth Morrison Cooper. It is nearing the end of a three-year contract to develop a model beef farm in the southern province of Guangxi. Mr O'Connor renegotiated a contract during his latest visit for the development of a model sheep ‘farm in Shanxi province, south-west of Peking. Mr O'Connor said that

C.H.N.Z.A.G.C.O. had first made proposals for the sheep farm project two years ago. but there had been delays in finalising the contract because of a period of economic readjustment in China. Although a two-year contract was signed in July, it had been necessary for him to re-negotiate the terms as bureaucratic changes prevented it from being ratified. Under the contract. New Zealand would supply two advisers for two years, from March next year, to help the Chinese develop a 750-hec-tare sheep demonstration farm in the south of Shanxi province, north of the Yellow River. Work had already started on the farm, with the help of New Zealand advice. It was eventually intended to carry 2500 sheep. . Mr O'Connor said that C.H.N.Z.A.G.C.O. was still hopeful of becoming involved in a pasture seeds project in the southern inland province of Guizhou. “The Chinese have also expressed an interest in hav-

ing us involved with projects in Gansu and Qinghai province,” he said. ■The most likely development in Gansu, an elongated inland province which stretches westwards to the Mongolian border, was dairy production on irrigated lucerne near Shandan. That was the city where the New Zealander, Rewi Alley, founded a school in 1944 and from where he ran his industrial co-operative before the Communists came to power in 1949. New Zealanders have supported the school with money and personnel, and Mr Alley, now 84 and living in Peking, has long been enthusiastic about the potential of the area for farming. Mr O'Connor said that the amount of good will developed from the New Zealand connection was still strong and there was a keenness to maintain it.

He had also visited Qinghai, which is between Gansu and Tibet, where he had seen some New Zealand Romney sheep, imported about 10 years ago. There was the possibility of a sheep farm project involving New Zealand being developed there. The future of the projects would be discussed by a seven-man Chinese delegation which would visit Nev? Zealand and Australia later this month. Mr O’Connor said he believed that New Zealand technology could play a very important role in helping to develop China's pastoral livestock industry. C.H.N.Z.A.G.C.O.’s involvement was partly a public relations exercise in the hope that the farms it was helping to develop would become showpieces for New Zealand technology and equipment.