Farmers will play a major role in the design of two innovative Australian Government programs aimed at boosting drought resilience.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud encourages farmers and industry within these regions to participate.
"We've chosen a broad range of climatic regions with a focus on key commodities," Minister Littleproud said.
The four regions are the:
- Queensland Dry Tropics
- Condamine and Northern Tablelands
- Victorian Mallee and south-east South Australia
- Western Australian sheep-wheat belt.
"Feedback gathered in these regions will inform the design of the Drought Resilience Self-Assessment Tool and the Climate Services for Agriculture digital platform, to make sure both are useful to the agricultural sector," Minister Littleproud said.
"The two initiatives will tailor climate risk, impact and resilience information to specific agricultural sectors in pilot regions, enabling farmers to prepare for future drought and climatic conditions.
"Farmers are key to the design and development of these important resources that will ultimately support their resilience, risk planning and profitability through future drought.
"Our farmers have a proud history and a wealth of local climate knowledge so it's important we tap into their ideas when it comes to the design and testing of technology like this.
"Providing farmers with the tools they need to be drought resilient is a key objective of the Future Drought Fund. These products will help farmers assess climate impacts on their farm businesses so they can make informed decisions.
"Farmers who live in areas outside of the pilot regions are also encouraged to have input by visiting the Future Drought Fund website and accessing the products that will be released nationally by the end of June this year.
"Engagement with farmers and industry in pilot regions will occur from March 2021.
"I encourage anyone interested in participating in user engagement in these pilot regions to visit the Future Drought Fund website
