South Australia's primary industries produced a strong return in the most recent financial year reaching $14.1 billion in revenue, according to new figures released today.
South Australia's Primary Industries Scorecard 2019-20 highlights the critical reliance on the primary industries and agribusiness sector to keep the economy moving despite a number of challenges including drought, bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said South Australian farmers should be proud of the $14.1 billion revenue recorded in 2019-20 in the face of adversity.
"Our agriculture sector is incredibly resilient and the 2019-20 Primary Industries Scorecard reflects the ability for our farmers to adapt to the challenges before them," said Minister Basham.
"South Australia's primary industries and agribusiness sector is a vital part of our economy supporting more than 70,000 jobs across the state.
"In 2019-20, the sector saw reduced export demand, particularly in wine, seafood and wool, but other sectors picked up much of the difference.
"We saw growth in the production value for livestock (up 4.7%), horticulture (up 12%), forestry (up 11%) and dairy (up 12%).
"The scorecard shows the value of the international exports of agriculture, food, wine and forestry products grew by three per cent to $5.6 billion, representing 51 per cent of the state's total merchandise export value in 2019–20.
"Through the whole supply chain, combined gross food and wine revenue increased to $20.56 billion, with increases in overseas export of food commodities and retail sales.
"The Marshall Liberal Government wants the sector to grow even further with Food, Wine and Agribusiness one of our nine Growth State sectors and we are committed to seeing it grow to $23 billion by 2030.
"Our government is supporting industry to achieve these goals by investing in our regions through our $160 million Regional Growth Fund, the $25 million upgrade of South Australia's Dog Fence, our $7.5 million Red Meat and Wool Growth Program and our AgTech Strategic Plan, to name a few."
The Primary Industries Scorecard includes the revenue, sales, exports and gross value production of primary industries sectors and associated processing such as field crops, livestock, horticulture, wine, seafood, dairy, forestry, wool, skins, seeds and animal feed.
View the Scorecard results at pir.sa.gov.au/scorecards
