May 11, 2017

12/05/2017: Global agricultural development

by Chris Jackson, Export Manager, UK TAG
 
Chris Jackson

I am writing these notes sitting under the veranda on a farm in Australia, where unlike Europe the farms have no state intervention but live in the real world of commodity prices for their livelihoods


This is my annual trip to Australia, following a visit to VIV Asia held biennially in Thailand. The exhibition grows in significance for the intensive livestock industry at each edition with over 1000 exhibiters this year, along with an increased visitor attendance of professional people.

The organisers have this time brought a large delegation of Chinese integrators to the show, and arranged a specific programme for them giving both them and exhibiting companies from around the world opportunities to make business without having to travel within China.
 


An interesting exhibition concept, one I am sure we will see developed more. Whilst in SE Asia I had the opportunity to visit the Can Tao State Agricultural show in Vietnam, this was largely a local event at which we were able to suggest that companies visit VIV Asia to meet with global companies.

It was an interesting event for me to better understand how the Vietnamese Government is trying to improve the incomes of their farmers, who still farm in the traditional way with small land holdings. In the Mekong, rice growing is the staple income along with soft fruits.

In order to improve incomes the Government have made bank loans available, so that farmers can both cooperate for buying and selling and mechanise making efficiencies of scale possible. This is a very innovative scheme put forward, however it is limited by the banks not making funds available as they do not see farming as a good risk.

The small farmers most in need of their help lack the collateral to back lending here, we see first-hand the lack of sympathy a capitalist world has for a small-scale business in need.


Read the full article, HERE.
 

The Global Miller
This blog is maintained by The Global Miller staff and is supported by the magazine Milling and Grain
which is published by Perendale Publishers Limited.


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