6. The Total Extension Sector
While the government-funded Advisory Services Division of MAF was by far the single largest extension service prior to restructuring, there were a number of other extension workers, including private consultants and extension workers employed by non-governmental bodies. The estimated number of extension workers in 1973 and 1995 is shown in Table 2.
The table shows an overall decline in the number of extension workers, although there has been a major increase in the number of private consultants following the demise of the government-funded service. Prior to restructuring, approximately half of all services were provided free by Government.
Table 2 : Estimate of the Number of Full Time Agricultural/Horticultural Extension Workers/Consultants Involved in On-farm/Orchard Work
| Organisation | 1973 | 1996 | |||
| Government Departments: | |||||
| - | Agriculture | 300 | - | ||
| - | Other | 120 | - | ||
| Boards: | |||||
| - | Producer and Catchment | 50 | 65 | ||
| - | Regional Councils (FTEs) | - | 10 | ||
| Private | 70 | 250 | |||
| Commercial Companies/Universities, CRIs | |||||
| (e.g., banks, stock and station firms) | 60 | 100 | |||
| Total | 600 | 425 | |||
Notes to Table 2:
Producer Boards: The New Zealand Dairy Board employs a total of 34 consulting officers, and 21 Farmwise consultants (Howse, pers com, 1996). These operate as part of the Livestock Improvement Corporation (a fully owned subsidiary of the Dairy Board). The Dairy Board consulting officer service was set up in 1940, and has been the main extension arm of the dairy industry (Stichbury, 1994). The focus of the consulting officer service has been on a "mass extension" approach via discussion groups and field days. Consulting officers have some individual contact with dairy farmers, but not on a regular/repeat basis. The main aim of the service is to maximise its contact with dairy farmers, and currently achieves contact with 60-65% of all dairy farmers. They also achieve a large degree of contact via two main extension media for dairy farmers - the "Dairy Exporter" (a monthly journal), and "Farming with Pictures" (a quarterly video on farming, sent to dairy farmers). Surveys have indicated a 90% readership/viewing of these media. The Farmwise consultants operate on a commercial basis, similar to private consultants (Howse, pers com).
Wools of New Zealand (previously the Wool Board) has staff involved in training and extension activities for New Zealand’s wool farmers: eight Production Officers, five Senior Shearing Trainers, and five Valuers.
Regional/Local Government: The Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991 gave local government the responsibility for resource management including land, water, air, and weeds and pests. While regional and district councils do not operate extension services as such, they are involved in the provision of information and advice to land owners on environmental matters.
Private: This includes Agriculture New Zealand Ltd as a commercial entity. In addition, there were many former MAF advisors who have set up either individual or group practices. In the financial sector, the major trading banks have "relationship managers", some of whom have the primary function of servicing the needs of farmers as a means of both servicing existing clients and maintaining, if not improving the bank’s market share. Dairy companies employ "production officers" to provide company, and regional, specific services to complement the Dairy Board consulting officer service. Commercial agribusiness firms, such as fertiliser, chemical and food processing companies, encourage their sales representatives to become "client managers", providing a more broadly based advisory function, but always with a view to promoting a particular product and/or to securing farm produce.
Contact for Enquiries
Rural Affairs Coordinator
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 4 894 0675
Fax: +64 4 4 894 0745
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