Farming and subsidies: Debunking the myths

Libro Usado, Tapa Blanda. "Farming and Subsidies: Debunking the Myths" offers an authoritative, insider look into New Zealand's radical 1984 agricultural reforms, which abruptly abolished almost all government farm subsidies. Written by Brian Chamberlin—a prominent farming leader who served as president of Federated Farmers of New Zealand during the transition—the book challenges the conventional wisdom that agriculture cannot survive without state intervention. Chamberlin dismantles the widespread "myths" surrounding agricultural protectionism. He uses New Zealand’s real-world outcome to prove that removing subsidies does not destroy the rural sector. Instead, the book illustrates how deregulation forced farmers to innovate, diversify, and become highly responsive to international market demands. It serves as both a historical record and a policy blueprint, arguing that market-driven agriculture ultimately creates a more resilient, efficient, and environmentally sustainable farming industry.