Agricultural policy reforms and sustainable land management: a New Zealand case study |
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Authors: | William Smith Lindsay Saunders |
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Affiliation: | 1. Division of Science &2. Technology , University of Auckland , Auckland, New Zealand;3. Landcare Research , PO Box 40, Lincoln 8152, New Zealand |
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Abstract: | This paper examines the link between poverty and land management within the context of New Zealand's almost total removal of subsidies to agriculture since 1984. The impact of these policy changes is explored through the findings from a detailed study of sixteen farms in the North Island hill country. Stress is identified as a primary link between social damage and environmental degradation. This link reinforces the impact of other linkages expressed in reduced production, lower stocking rates, and reduced capital inputs. Deregulation is claimed to be good. This paper shows that in certain circumstances this is not so. |
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Keywords: | agricultural policy restructuring environment poverty linkages stress |
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