NEW State Government funding promoting the use of agriculture technology in the Riverland could mean “millions of dollars in efficiency savings” for the region’s growers.
Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone and Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham met with local growers at Venus Citrus in Loxton last week, when it was announced $35,000 would be allocated to extend the LEAN Efficiency program – focusing on “cutting-edge” agriculture technology – into the Riverland’s horticulture sector.
Mr Whetstone said adapting to new on-farm technologies was crucial for Riverland primary producers facing challenges associated with drought and water availability.
“The Riverland is a food bowl of South Australia and the LEAN program is aimed at improving efficiency and increasing productivity for our food producers,” Mr Whetstone said.
“The adoption of AgTech on-farm for primary producers in the Riverland presents a real opportunity to further grow and innovate in the horticulture sector.”
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said the LEAN program was expected to generate efficiency savings of more than $6 million for food producers.
“The LEAN program for the Murraylands and Riverland is based on a successful trial run on the Northern Adelaide Plains where 10 growers were provided with automation audits, workshops and advice,” Mr Basham said.
“The horticulture sector along the River Murray corridor plays a critical role in putting food on the tables of families not only in South Australia but across the world.
“There are challenges for horticulturalists and vegetable growers to access specialist advice to help improve processing and packhouse efficiencies and that’s why we are bringing this expertise directly to primary producers.
“We hope that by working with AUSVEG SA to implement the LEAN approach, producers will find ways to improve their current operations, and consider how automation can increase their productivity.”
AUSVEG SA chief executive officer Jordan Brooke-Barnett said grower investment of $800,000 resulted in returns of “of over $1 million per annum in enhanced productivity” in the Northern Adelaide Plains LEAN trial.
“We’re excited to bring this program to Murraylands and Riverland vegetable growers and horticulturalists, to help them save money, increase profitability and improve their productivity through the application of the LEAN methodology,” Mr Brooke-Barnett said.