Soil Replacements Provided for Australian Produce Growers

According to the latest reports, Carnarvon producers were adversely affected by the floods that occurred in February. The Federal Government has now decided to replace the damaged soil to assist the farm owners. In order to ensure that the work progresses swiftly, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has already commenced securing the required soil. In addition, utmost care is being taken to make sure that any environmental and heritage issues are dealt with tactfully. In fact, all of the potential growers will be evaluated this week to ensure that the soil is replaced as early as possible.

According to credible sources, this soil replacement program is only for the farmers at Carnarvon. This initiative will not only help them to regain their lost momentum but it will also guarantee that the productivity levels are stable yet again. The Carnarvon irrigation area plays an important role in providing quality fresh produce to the domestic market, including tomatoes, capsicums, sweet corn, mangoes, asparagus, melons, bananas, herbs, and chilies, worth up to $100 million per annum.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is coordinating the State Government’s replacement soil program, which will include a review of Carnarvon flood plain management and the catchment plan to mitigate the impact of future flooding events. The flood plain review will have a strong focus on soil management, with the expectation that growers will implement sustainable conservation practices to reduce the risk of erosion and the need for soil replacement.

Many growers have already leveled farm tracks and paddocks so annual crop planting can continue, and others have undertaken remedial action and adopted farm practices to protect their soil crops from water erosion. It is important for the industry to gather the lessons learned from this flood event and invest in strategies that prevent this threat to production and builds long-term business resilience.

Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech)