To assist in framing policies to bring about increased primary production, the Government in the latter part of 1963 called together an Agricultural Development Conference. This Conference was attended by representatives of all the major groups in the community associated with our export industries, the principal objective being to make recommendations to the Government as to how the needed increase in primary production could best be attained. To facilitate its work the Conference established a number of Working Parties to investigate and report on specific problems affecting agriculture, and another to report on the production targets for the next decade or, in other words, the levels of production which are physically possible of attainment. These targets would also take into account, in the light of present knowledge, likely markets and prices for our export products.
Subsequent sessions of the Conference have considered the various Working Parties' reports and the final session recommended the establishment of an Agricultural Production Council to supervise the carrying out of the Conference's decisions and to review the progress towards the attainment of targets. The Conference's recommendation has been adopted by Government. Thus the Council, on which farmers' organisations and appropriate Government Departments are to be represented, will form a direct link between Government and the industry. The constitution and functions of the Council were outlined in November 1964 by the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. B. E. Talboys.
The Council comprises representatives from Federated Farmers, the Dairy Production and Marketing Board, the Wool Board, the Meat Producers' Board, the Department of Agriculture, and the Treasury. It is presided over by the Minister of Agriculture, with the Director-General of Agriculture as his deputy. In addition, there is power to co-opt members from other organisations and Departments. The Government provides a small secretariat. The Agricultural Production Council is primarily designed to serve as an effective means of consultation between bodies responsible for agricultural production. It will keep under review and, if necessary, propose changes in the livestock target of 111 million ewe equivalents adopted by the Conference and the Government as necessary to maintain the country's economic growth, and it will advise the Minister on measures needed to attain this target. Through its Central Information Committee, the Council will publicise agricultural objectives and the incentives available to farmers to induce them to increase production. District Committees will keep the Council informed of local progress and problems and special Working Parties will be set up, from time to time, to investigate specific questions.
by Patrick Russell Stephens, M.A., Economics Section, Department of Agriculture, Wellington.