PLURIACTIVITY - AN EXPLORATION OF ISSUES WITH REFERENCE TO NEW-ZEALAND LIVESTOCK AND FRUIT AGRO-COMMODITY SYSTEMS

The paper explores issues relating to pluriactivity in the New Zealand 's agro-commodity systems in the 'farm crisis' conditions of the late 1980s and early 1990s. It draws on survey evidence from specialised fa rm businesses and their related farm households in those production sy stems: dairy, sheep/beef and apples. The survey findings suggest that the high incidence and patterns of pluriactivity are best understood i n terms of forces beyond agriculture and that the New Zealand's 'farm crisis' per se has not induced major changes in the social relations o f farm production or farm households. The paper concludes that pattern s of on- and off-farm links may potentially constrain the development of sustainable agriCulture in New Zealand.