The Prime Minister announced the next phase of the Future Drought Fund (FDF) at Beef Week and National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) President, David Jochinke, and Farmers for Climate Action CEO Natalie Collard both said the fund was central to making the ag industry more drought resilient.
“Supporting long-term resilience through initiatives and programs like those funded by the FDF has never been more important,” Mr Jochinke said.
“Having been up and running for several years it makes sense to continually review the FDF and ensure we’re making the most of that investment.
“The Prime Minister being in Rockhampton to make today’s announcement hopefully demonstrates that drought resilience is front of mind for this Government, especially given the dry conditions being faced by producers in the West and Tasmania.”
Farmers for Climate Action, an organisation representing more than 8000 farmer members across Australia has also welcomed today’s announcement on drought initiatives.
“It is a big step forward for the Future Drought Fund to acknowledge the reality that climate change is driving more frequent and severe droughts in Australia,” said Farmers for Climate Action CEO Natalie Collard.
“We welcome the investment into future drought preparedness and commitments to assisting farmers in drought.
“This is needed right now. Farmers in Western Australia and Tasmania are doing it tough with record low rainfall in some regions.”
Mr Jochinke also called out specific areas where today’s announcement aligns with suggestions put forward by farmer advocates and the Productivity Commission.
“We’re pleased to see the continuation of the Farm Business Resilience Program,” the NFF President said.
“Sound financial planning is one of the most powerful tools we have to prepare for drought, and we know that program has helped thousands of farmers sharpen up their preparation.
“We’re also pleased to see a review of the Drought Hubs and more investment in overall monitoring and evaluation of the FDF. This is something we’ve called for to ensure we’re seeing tangible outcomes for the sector.
