A Study of the Factors Affecting the Development of Commercial Agriculture in the Cook Islands

Abstract

1. PROBLEMS Programmes for the Economic Development of the Cook Islands have had set backs due to a series of economic, social, political and administrative problems which all hinge on an objective of economic policy - the attempt to revive an arrested growth of agricultural production of the Cook Islands. Available trade statistics clearly reveal four separate stages in the development of agricultural production: first, a period of steady increase in production commencing from the early period until about 1910; secondly, a period of twenty years, 1910-1930, where production was at its height; the third period is from 1930 until 1945 when there was a very rapid decline in production; finally, there is the post War II period where improvements have been slow and erratic. Table I shows the volume of citrus, bananas and copra exported since 1900 and at the same time distinguishes the four stages in the development of agricultural production.