Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
the National Farmers' Federation (NFF), endorsed this move: it was told by ABARE
that Australian farmers could reap billions of dollars if free trade settings were put
in place nationally and globally. Since the 1980s, agricultural policy in Australia
has been dominated by neoliberalism and the economic rationalist policy settings
(privatization of state services, liberalization of state regulations, cutbaks in redis-
tributive spending) whih accompany that ideology (Gray and Lawrence, 2001).
Neoliberal policy setings combine a strong determination to have individuals
take responsibility for their actions (individualization), along with a belief that free
markets will - and ought to - sort those who are innovative and profit-driven from
those doomed to competitive failure (marketization) (Lokie
et al.
, 2005). Individu-
alization and marketization are in direct opposition to planned government inter-
ventions: in fact, governmental 'interference' is viewed as standing in the way of
progress. Neoliberal governance is based upon the extension of property rights, in-
cluding the right of those with property to do what they wish with labour, capital -
and, in the case of farmers - natural resources. In a productivist system this means
expansion of capital and greater exploitation of the environment.
The form of agriculture that emerged from the 1970s and 80s under neoliberal
policy setings was one that sought to give individual farmers the greatest freedom
to maximize on-farm eiciency and to ahieve the highest output. In competition
with eah other, and with overseas producers, they sought to increase output by har-
nessing the latest seed varieties, animal breeds, fertilizers, insecticides, veterinary
hemicals, farm mahinery, and by embracing mono-cultural practices (fence-to-
fence planting of the same high-yielding grains) together with so-called 'factory
farming' of hikens, pigs and catle in concentrated animal feeding operations
(CAFOs). Ever-increasing volumes of water for irrigated cropping were diverted
from inland river systems, and native vegetation was cleared to make way for in-
creased cropping and grazing. Finally, agribusiness firms grew strongly from the sale
of inputs to farmers, as well as by transporting, pakaging, processing and selling
farm products to consumers. Success is measured by output: Australian agriculture
currently feeds its domestic population of some 20 million people and exports suf-
ficient food to feed another 40 million (PMSEIC, 2010, p15). What could be wrong
here?
