Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced the funding at a Thriving Southland function at Five Rivers in northern Southland in what is the first region-wide extension project funded by the $229m Sustainable Land Use package.
Thriving Southland chairman Ewen Mathieson says the project will help farmers reduce their environmental footprint by paying for experts to provide them with advice and guidance.
Enhancing or extending the catchment group model will also provide a social outlet for farmers that should enhance their wellness in an era when they are becoming increasingly isolated.
“It is an opportunity to reconnect as a rural community,” Mathieson said.
The five years of funding will pay for the facilitation and support of catchment groups and co-ordinators to provide information on how farmers can mitigate their environmental footprints.
Part of that work will involve a stocktake on the steps farmers are already taking.
For example, the dairy industry’s Water Accord has quantified that 98% of waterways are fenced off from cows but the beef industry has no such record.
The four extension platforms to be funded by the project include managing nutrients for water quality and greenhouse gas emissions, rural community and farmer wellness, farm systems and farm profitability.
Trade officials say customers want assurance New Zealand food meets environmental and animal welfare standards so this structure should provide that, Mathieson said.
Southland’s 23 catchment groups have different aims and challenges and that number could increase as regionally specific issues are determined and targets defined are tackled by smaller groups.
“We already have a catchment group model and we want to use it and facilitate and support it to a greater degree.”
The Government’s new national freshwater policy statement grants iwi greater involvement in freshwater management and catchment groups can provide communities with that platform to engage with iwi.
Most farmers are doing plenty to address their environmental footprint but often that is happening in silos and Mathieson hopes the project will lead to an exchange of ideas and solutions.
“If we get the structure right and if we get the engagement right this has the potential to be a game-changer around farmer engagement and where we can move forward.”
O’Connor said the project will help Southland farmers and growers make the changes required to lift environmental sustainability and unlock more value for their hard work.
“Our farmers and growers are committed to making genuine change.
“Many are already doing it but they need practical information about what steps to take, clear direction about what to aim for and support to take action,” he said.
The Sustainable Land Use package has so far this year supported the establishment of three Maori agribusiness clusters in Whangaparoa, Raukokere and Cape Runaway and a Southern Wellness activities co-ordinator. Four more projects are planned in Kaipara, King Country, Hurunui and Ellesmere.
