Without the proper level of skills training for those wanting to enter the industry, Tasmanian agriculture could never realise its full potential, could not deliver on the dream of $10 billion annual production by the year 2050, Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association (TFGA) president Wayne Johnston said today.

“That is why today’s State Government commitment to fund our Agrivision project, our agriculture industry skills plan, is a milestone moment in the pursuit of that ideal,” he said.

“Without an education program tuned to the needs of farming businesses through to 2050, we cannot deliver what this great farming landscape in Tasmania offers,” he said.

“More and more, farming is a business like any other. It requires business skills, financial risk management, cost controls and realistic budgeting as well as the traditional skills of the farmer in the paddock.”

The Tasmanian Government today launched its $450,000 funding of the three-year program, which the TFGA will administer and which will be delivered in conjunction with other agricultural industry organisations in the state.
“This project is exciting in that it will bring together all industry sectors, working together, to ensure that tomorrow’s agricultural workforce requirements are being met,” Mr Johnston said.

“Advances in on-farm technology through programs such as Sense-T and the continued investment in irrigation water infrastructure are changing the face of farming here.

‘We have to ensure that we continue to deliver the workforce and the skills to maximise the returns to the state. If we are to meet the training needs of the agricultural sector in the not too distant future we must act now. This demonstrates that we are.”

Mr Johnston said co-operation would be the key.

“The project will enable the training needs of the industry to guide registered training organisations and the government to ensure the best value from the skills training budget.”
Mr Johnston said farmers appreciated the state government’s strong backing of agriculture across the spread of portfolios and noted particularly the extension of Years 11 and 12 to regional high schools, a move that he said would help to keep a viable farm labour force in the regions.
TFGA president Wayne Johnston