Future Drought Fund will deliver better risk management for Northern Territory

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud and Northern Territory Minister for Agribusiness and Aquaculture Nicole Manison said the Future Drought Fund programs will support farmers and regions to build resilience to future droughts.

"The $9.85 million Regional Drought Resilience Planning program supports partnerships of regional organisations, councils, communities and farmers to develop regional drought resilience plans," Minister Littleproud said.

"The plans will identify how to manage through droughts, finding ways to build resilience across agricultural sectors and allied industries.

Planning will be community-led and owned. It will bring regional knowledge and perspectives, along with the best available evidence and data.

"Australian farmers manage uncertainty daily and the business of farming is becoming more challenging," Minister Littleproud said.

"The $16 million Farm Business Resilience program will give farmers access to subsidised learning and development opportunities to meet these challenges.

"The program will take farmers' knowledge and skills to the next level in risk management and decision-making, natural resource management, and personal and social resilience.

"It will also support farm business planning and access to experts and one-on-one advice.

"The Australian Government welcomes the Northern Territory's partnership in these important Future Drought Fund initiatives."

The Northern Territory will benefit from over $190,000 in Future Drought Fund funding for Farm Business Resilience and over $640,000 for Regional Drought Resilience Planning.

Minister Manison welcomed the Australian Government's commitment towards a Regional Drought Resilience Planning program for the Territory.

"We want to support our Territory farmers in any way we can and this program will help build resilience to future droughts in the Territory.

"Through the Regional Drought Resilience Plan we will work with pastoralists, local governments and Land Councils from Southern Alice Springs and the Barkly region to explore agriculture issues that impact the Territory's regional and Aboriginal communities.

"Through the Farm Business Resilience program we will focus on the Territory's beef cattle, farming and horticulture sectors," Minister Manison said.

The Australian Government has recently announced an additional $91 million for both programs over 3 years beyond the foundational year and will be working with states and territories on the detail.

For more details visit the Australian Government Future Drought Fund webpage.

Fast Facts:

• The Farm Business Resilience program and Regional Drought Resilience Planning program are foundational programs under the Australian Government's forward-thinking $5 billion Future Drought Fund. 
• The Future Drought Fund is a long term sustained investment of $100 million each year to build drought preparedness.
• Both will roll out across the country from 2021 until June 2022.