An online campaign to encourage young people to consider a career in the primary sector kicked off at National Fieldays, which also saw the release of a situation outlook report which reports revenue growth of $1 billion to nearly $37 billion in 2016.
The Primary Industry ‘Champions’ initiative online campaign features Kiwis such as Richie McCaw, Rob and Sonia Waddell, Sir David Fagan and many others.
“These well-known New Zealanders will help raise awareness of the primary sector and encourage young people to consider a career in this broad field,” says minister for primary industries Nathan Guy.
“The Situation Outlook for Primary Industries (SOPI) 2016 was released at Fieldays and proves how diversified the sector has become,” says Guy.
“Although dairy export returns are lower, overall revenue for the primary sector has grown by $1 billion to nearly $37 billion, thanks to strong growth in horticulture, beef, wool, forestry, food processing, and seafood exports,” says Guy.
“The Government also announced an extra $600,000 of funding to help strengthen local mental health networks for farmers and rural communities. This funding helps to ensure we maintain the momentum achieved last year, while also putting a plan in place for the future,” he says.
