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Agri forum gets support
13 Jul 2004
An agribusiness forum may be set up by the Department of Primary Industries in Victoria's north-west to plan future development of the region's $1.5 billion agriculture sector. The initial aim will be to set up a regional agribusiness body for the cities of Mildura and Swan Hill.
The proposal follows several workshops held by a Murray Mallee steering committee. A report estimated the value of the region's agricultural production at $1.46 billion, almost a fifth of Victoria's $9.3 billion 2001-2002 output. The chief commodities were crops, including pasture and grasses ($891 million), grapes ($150 million), milk ($117 million), fruit ($107 million), livestock slaughterings ($90 million), vegetables ($70 million) and almonds ($20 million).
The report said hundreds of millions of dollars of agribusiness development are likely to be made over the next 5-10 years. Hundreds, even thousands, of new jobs may be created.
Common problems identified were a shortage of field staff and skilled employees, government regulation/red tape, inadequate housing and telecommunications, the lack of education and training, and the need for infrastructure and power upgrades, and for water security.
The Age, 12/7/04.
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