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    A study of factors hindering increased production in the Rangitaiki Plains and in Galatea : thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in Massey University
    (Massey University, 1968) Cronin, M B
    This chapter gives a brief outline of the purpose of this study of the Rangitaiki Plains and Galatea. The population of farms from which the survey sample was taken is defined, and a thesis guide is given. 1.2 The Purpose of the Survey Prior to this survey some farmers on the Rangitaiki Plains and in Galatea were making large increases in butterfat production by following a pattern of higher stocking rates, and increased rates of application of fertilizer, together with the required compl ementary inputs. It was noticed, however , by the district extension officers, and officials of the Rangitaiki Plains Dairy Company that many other farmers were remaining static in production. This study consisted of a survey of 37 dairy farms selected from this district, and was aimed to firstly evaluate, both physically and financially, development projects on progr­essive farms, and secondly to investigate the factors which were hindering other farmers from increasing production, and to find ways of overcoming these problems. [From Introduction]
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    Subsistence food production and marketing in Papua New Guinea : a research paper presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Philosophy in Development Studies at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1994) Peng, Peter Benjamen
    Agriculture is the main component of the economic sector of the Less Developed Countries (LDC's) of Asia, Africa and Latin America. In most of these countries, which includes Papua New Guinea (PNG), subsistence agriculture dominates despite the tremendous advances in agricultural technology elsewhere, especially in Developed Countries, in the course of the twentieth century. The characteristic feature of these subsistence farms is low productivity which means small, if any, production surplus over consumption, which results in very little trade between the agriculture sector and other sectors of the country. In LDC's, this has often led to declining food production and increased dependence on imported food as the bulk of domestic food supply is produced by the subsistence sector. In PNG, very similar trends are noted. This paper examines some issues affecting smallholder agriculture and implications for increasing agricultural productivity in PNG. Specifically, the research problem and the focus of this study is firstly, how to increase subsistence food production and secondly, how to effectively move the rural surplus to urban consumers where it is required. To increase productivity, LDC's are faced with two choices; extend land area under cultivation if land is available or improve agricultural technology if land is scarce. While PNG is relatively well endowed with land (more than four times the average for developing countries) , much of the land is too mountainous to convert to arable land, with only less than 0.3 per cent of the land used for annual crops and grazing. The choice of strategy thus is determined by land. This paper shows that the PNG government has under-invested in agriculture, particularly subsistence agriculture. Further investment in research and technology is required, focusing especially on their farming systems. Traditional farmers are not traditionalist by choice. Agricultural techniques have been developed over centuries, through years of accumulated experience of generations of farmers. Extensive literature in agriculture economics show that traditional farmers cannot normally adopt technological innovations unless the circumstances in which they operate are first changed. The important role of marketing in economic development is also underplayed. It is a common fallacy to assume that markets when left to their own devices can lead to increased productivity and efficiency within the distribution system. Government intervention is also necessary in marketing to achieve social goals of self sufficiency in food production. This study attempts to demonstrate that given the right incentives, mostly institutional and technological, subsistence food production can be increased in PNG.
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    Towards an operational definition of sustainability in New Zealand dairy farming : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in Resource and Environmental Planning, Massey University
    (Massey University, 1993) Lerios, Leo A
    Sustainability is increasingly viewed as a desirable goal of agricultural development and environmental management. The emergence of the sustainability concept has seen a concomitant rise in the interest of its measurement. It has been suggested that through the use of sustainability indicators, the attainment of the agricultural sustainability goal can be assessed. It is therefore the aim of this thesis to develop indicators based on the concept of agricultural sustainability. An environmental accounting model is used as the framework within which these indicators were developed and evaluated. The agricultural sustainability concept is first examined and defined, giving significance to its economic, ecological and social dimensions. It is emphasised that the attainment of sustainability involves the balance and trade-off amongst these dimensions, which can be demonstrated through the dynamic interactions of these dimensions. The thesis then focuses on the discussion of the methodological considerations, which are important in developing an operational framework for measuring agricultural sustainability. The ideal properties and characteristics of sustainability indicators are identified and critically examined. An evaluation of the different types of input-output models that could be used in conjunction with such indicators were discussed. Input-output models were seen to be critical in developing an operational framework, as they are capable of representing the interactions between the economic and ecological dimensions of sustainability. The second part of the thesis concentrates on the application of the methodology to measuring changes in sustainability of New Zealand dairy farming industry. After a brief historical survey of dairy farming, a number of sustainability indicators for the industry are identified. These indicators were then operationalised using a spreadsheet-based input-output model of the New Zealand dairy farming industry. The model consisted of an eight-sector dairy farming sub-model (based on MAF farm types), connected to a 25-sector input-output sub-model of the New Zealand economy. The model focused on selected resource inputs and pollutants. Indicators derived from the input-output model were developed to reflect the economic, ecological and social dimensions of the sustainability concept. These indicators then were evaluated by monitoring their behaviour in different scenarios for the future of New Zealand dairy farming, by using the environmental accounting method developed earlier. It is observed that the policy goal of sustainability in dairy farming generally can not be attained to the full satisfaction of all the economic, ecological and social indicators. Along the way, trade-offs and balances among these factors have to be made. It is up to the policy and decision makers to weigh the various alternatives, with the indicators providing adequate information upon which rational choices can be based. This thesis demonstrated the possibility of formulating sustainability indicators and using them as an evaluation tool in spite of the current state of available data and methodological constraints. It is recommended that a baseline of agricultural sustainability parameters should be established and associated relevant expertise be developed, if operational measurement of the agricultural sustainability goal is to be pursued.