Production rise overseas ‘could help New Zealand’

Press, 10 February 1989, Page 16

Production rise overseas ‘could help New Zealand’

New Zealand should make the most of possible massive production increases in developing countries, according to an Invercargill farm management consultant, Mr Graham Cooney.

In a report to the Lincoln College Foundation, which helped fund his trip to the seventh International Farm Management Congress in Copenhagen, Mr Cooney said the expected boost in production was a minus in New Zealand’s future which could be turned into a plus. Countries fell into two categories. They were either developed and generally trying to hold down production of their commodities, or were less developed and were trying to increase production to achieve self sufficiency and maybe export. Production increases were just starting in China, Poland and Nigeria and the potential for growth was immense. Any success in areas such as the European Community and the United States in reducing

production might well be offset by increases in the developing countries, even allowing for the different types of commodities being produced. “New Zealand’s experience and standing as an innovative agriculture producer must give it an edge in assisting production increases and perhaps open larger markets as people in those markets become better informed of the products available and become more affluent,” said Mr Cooney. The development of technology would have a similar impact. It had been suggested the real effects of technological change had yet to be felt in the world’s agriculture, particularly in the less accessible and poorer producing- areas. “In many areas, a whole country’s past pro-

duction might well come off a much reduced land area, thereby creating a large gap in value between the high and poor producing land.” Technology could have serious implications for New Zealand’s hill and high country, he said. “Some informed comment concerning such things as cloning of very high producing animals and plants, and the possible effect on the lowerproducing country in New Zealand, is a possible subject for future seminars.” The political changes in countries such as Russia could have far reaching consequences for future sales of product and technology, Mr Cooney said, The plusses in the future for New Zealand agriculture should be made into larger plusses. That included a push to reflect New Zealand’s

clean image and a more concerted drive in Southern Hemisphere markets, in spite of problems of payment. It could now be time to consider a re-education programme for informed, capable farmers and exporters on offshore borrowing. Mr Cooney said his trip to Europe convinced him that virtual free-trade for the meat industry was the only option available if it was to progress. “I feel very strongly that political interference, of any type, must decrease and not increase. I believe for a number of reasons that the meat industry has only one option if it is to go ahead, and that is a processing and exporting industry that is as free from restrictions, of any type, as it is possible to be,” he said.