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National Farmers' Federation

Government announces $206,000 for NFF to bolster farm sector leadership capability on National Agriculture Day

On National Agriculture Day (AgDay), the farm sector’s peak body, the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has welcomed $206,000 in Federal Government funding for the development of leadership and advocacy capability across agricultural representation.
The announcement was made by Assistant Minister for Agriculture & Water Resources Hon Luke Hartsuyker MP, at a special AgDay event at NFF House in Canberra today.
The NFF is one of several national farm sector representative bodies, to receive funding to enable them to enhance the leadership skills of their farmer representatives.
NFF Chief Executive Tony Mahar said the $5 million Leadership in Agricultural Industries Fund was recognition of the value the Government placed on ensuring the continued success of Australia’s food, fibre and forestry industries.
“Today’s announcement is an investment in the future of our sector’s capacity to advocate for what’s in our best interests and to take advantage of the opportunities before us.”
Mr Mahar said the Federal Government, through the agriculture, trade, transport, energy and other related portfolios, continually demonstrated a willingness to understand and consider the requirements of the farm sector, when developing and implementing policy.
“As such, as a sector, we need to ensure we have representatives with the necessary leadership and advocacy skills, to continue to put our case to Government.”
National agricultural representative bodies were required to submit proposals for projects that they believed would address leadership gaps across their organisation and the industry.
Funded projects include governance training, recognised leadership courses and works to reform and modernise organisational structure.
Mr Mahar said while it was always difficult to generalise about agriculture given its diversity, at the moment in the main, agriculture was enjoying a golden era and it was more important than ever that the sector work together to achieve lasting prosperity.
“Latest national accounts show food and fibre production is the biggest contributor to GDP growth,” Mr Mahar said.
“Agriculture and the industries that support it, employ 1.6 million Australians.
“Global demand for our produce is unprecedented.
“However, as a sector we need to work together better, less in silos and more as a united force.”
“By doing so we will get the best return on our resources and ultimately a better deal for agriculture.”
“Developing an army of ag leaders is a great step towards achieving this.”

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