Agricultural Liberalisation

A.Harris@mirinz.org.nz
Wed, 12 Jun 1996 09:14 +1200

The forwarded article "Agricultural Liberalisation in the Philippines"
was very interesting from a New Zealand perspective.

In New Zealand "farm subsidies" were pre-emptively removed by the
government nine years ago. Since then rural areas have continued to
lose people to the cities, another round of mergers/mortgagee sales
looks imminent and rural infrastructure continues to deconstruct.

Excuse my ignorance but I do not understand the distinction between
farm subsidies and direct payments. Can someone enlighten me?

Thanks in advance.

Alfred Harris