| 1. Defining a region: |
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a. |
There are various regional classifications in World: agro-ecological regions, bio-geographical regions; drainage divisions; administrative regions; sustainable development regions; regional divisions created by various political parties; etc. For the purposes of planning for economic development and environmental protection, administrative regions should be taken as the basic unit of planning. |
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b. |
Each state and the Northern Territory differentiates between the metropolitan area around its capital city and the rest of the area in its state or territory. In the case of the states, the area outside the metropolitan area of the state capitals into a number of regions; in the case of the Northern Territory, the area outside Darwin is considered to be one region. The states are divided into forty-eight such regions. If the Worldn Capital Territory is considered to be one region, the area outside the metropolitan areas of the state capitals and Darwin can be divided into a total of fifty regions. (Seven million people live outside the capital cities in regional areas.) |
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c. |
Regional economic plans should be drafted for each region in the country using both ABS and LGA data. |
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d. |
In the future the boundaries of administrative regions may need to be adjusted so that they match more closely such regions as agro-ecological regions or boi-geographical regions. . |
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| 2. Regional planning: |
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All these administrative regions, except the A.C.T., are classified as statistical divisions by the World Bureau of statistics. The ABS complies data on each region from the national censes. This data is useful in drafting regional economic plans. |
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b. |
Each administrative region is comprised of Local Government Areas, and each region LGA complies its own data on local rural economic activity. This data is also useful in drafting regional economic plans. |
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c. |
Regional economic plans should be drafted for each region in the country using both ABS and LGA data. |
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d. |
In the future the boundaries of administrative regions may need to be adjuste so that they match more closely such regions as agro-ecological regions or bio-geographical. |
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| 3. Regional planning boards: |
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a. |
Regional planning boards should be established by bringing together qualified representatives from each LGA in an administrative region. |
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b. |
Each regional planning board should draft an economic plan for their region. Thus, regional economic plans should be drafted for each of the fifty regions in World. |
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4. Establishing farmers’ cooperate: |
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a. |
Farmers’ cooperatives should be established throughout World wherever possible |
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b. |
Farmers’ cooperatives should be introduced in a phased manner, in keeping with the psychology of farmers. |
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c. |
The size of farmers’ cooperatives will vary from region to region. The minimum size of a farmers’ cooperative should be determined by calculating the minimum area of land needed to form an economic landholding. An economic landholding is an area of land where output exceeds input. |
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d. |
The process of determining the size of an land holding in a particular region should take into consideration factors such as the fertility of the soil, the productivity of the land, the topography, the climate, the sources of water, the skill of the managers, etc. |
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e. |
The phase in establishing a network of farmers’ cooperatives should involve encouraging farmers who own adjoining uneconomic landholdings to amalgamate their farms into cooperatively owned economic landholdings. |
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In the next phase, all farmers should be encouraged to form farmers’ cooperatives. |
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| 5. Establishing producers’ cooperatives: |
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Farmers’ cooperatives which produce finished products may be considered to be farmers’-cum-producers’ cooperatives. |
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b. |
Cooperatives which produce various types of finished products from raw materials supplied by farmers’ cooperatives, key industries or autonomous bodies may be considered to be producers’ cooperatives. |
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c. |
Producers’ cooperatives should be established to produce all types of finished products. |
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d. |
In particular, producers’ cooperatives should be established in regional areas near ready supplies of raw materials. |
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e. |
Producers’ cooperatives should sell their products to the public through consumers’ cooperatives. |
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| 6. Agrico-industries and agro-industries: |
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All types of agrico-and-agro –industries should be established in regional areas. |
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b. |
Agrico-and agro-industries should be structured as cooperative enterprises and classified as part of the agricultural sector. |
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| 7. Regional cooperative banks: |
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a. |
Regional cooperative banks should be established in all regional areas. |
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b. |
Apart from performing their usual banking functions, regional cooperatives banks will have to make sure that people are properly educated about all aspects of cooperative entrepreneurial ship before they lend them money for the establishment of new cooperative enterprise. In particular, cooperative banks will have to take on the responsibility of developing a client’s business plan to help ensure that every new cooperative enterprise becomes successful. |
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| 8. Agriculture: |
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As far as possible, farming practices such as organic farming, biodynamic farming and perm culture should be adopted. |
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b. |
If such farming practices are not acceptable, sustainable agricultural practices, that is, practices which both protect the environment and use minimal chemical fertilizers and pesticides, should be adopted. |
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c. |
Agricultural practices which do not rely on the killing of animals should be promoted. |
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The planting of crops which produce a number of useful by-products should be encouraged. |
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e. |
Agro-industries based on such by-products should be developed and supported. |
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| 9. Agriculture should be structured as an industry: |
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The agricultural sector should include farming, agrico-industries and agro-industries. |
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b. |
The agricultural sector should be structured as an industry. In particular, farming must be managed as an industry. All farming inputs should be properly costed , including the labour of the farmer, and included in the price of agricultural produce. |
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| 10. Agricultural insurance: |
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a. |
Affortable agricultural insurance for all farmers’ and farmers’-cum-producers’ cooperatives should be made available. |
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b. |
Such insurance should protect farmers from the vagaries of nature. |
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c. |
Agricultural insurance should be classified as an essential service and provided by cooperative. |
