Impact assessment of the 1990 East Coast technology transfer programme : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in Farm Management, Massey University

The East Coast of the North Island experienced serious drought conditions during the summer of 1988/89, which severely depressed farm production and profitability. To assist farmers recover from the drought the Government provided $30 million in the form of a special "Drought Recovery Assistance Programme". Part of the budget was assigned to a Technology Transfer Programme (incorporating an Alternative Pasture Demonstration Programme). This programme aimed to mitigate future drought risk, promote dryland farming sustainability and reduce the need for future Government intervention by encouraging farmers to adopt a range of short- and long-term practices in their overall farming system. A farm 'systems' approach to technology transfer differentiated this programme from previous adverse event assistance. The Government, farmers and the agencies responsible for the East Coast Technology Transfer Programme were interested in whether this new approach to technology transfer had been successful. The objectives of this research were to assess the programme's success relative to its objectives and in terms of its on-farm impact. Telephone, mail and interview surveys of farmers located in the East Coast region were conducted. Data about processes used for the dissemination of information, the type and amount of technology adopted, and the attitude of farmers to future droughts and Government intervention were collected. Most of the farmers (91%) contacted in the telephone survey (n=200 farmers) had changed some aspect of their farming system in order to decrease its susceptibility to drought, and 81% now consider themselves to be better equipped to successfully manage drought conditions. Written material prepared for the programme was most often cited by farmers as an information source. The most common changes made by farmers were the incorporation of new pasture (52%), more timely decision making (48%), increased proportions of readily disposable livestock and greater use