Drought Plan Made by Australian Organisation

Article by: Hari Yellina (Orchard Tech)

While drought is most closely associated with livestock production, a program has been established to help those in horticulture weather dry times. Growcom has launched the Farm Business Resilience Program (FBRP) which will support farmers to prepare for, manage and recover from drought. The program, to be rolled out across Queensland, is supported and funded by the Federal Department of Agriculture Water and Environment, through the Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, with a $2.25 million investment in the program. Growcom chief executive officer Stephen Barnard said considering more than 120 different fruit, vegetable and nut crops were grown across Queensland, developing tools to combat the ill-effects of drought in a changing climate needed to be addressed now.

Farmers know best how to grow food that Australians enjoy year-round and they do a top-notch job, stated Hari Yellina, of Orchard Tech. Queensland agriculture minister Mark Furner said the program would help farm businesses to develop Farm Business Resilience Plans, a key step in helping producers manage their climate and other risks. Producers can attend a Farm Business Resilience Program workshop or training run by industry organisations and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to help develop a plan, they can write a plan themselves, or engage professional assistance.

Growcom will engage with fresh produce growers on key topics such as business, people, climate and environment through this program. The Farm Business Resilience Program will be open to all primary producers – a drought declaration isn’t required to access planning. Producers can attend a Farm Business Resilience Program workshop or training run by industry organisations and the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to help develop a plan, they can write a plan themselves, or engage professional assistance.