VFF calls for government-backed campaign to attract new talent to agriculture

The sector is going to need government backing if it’s to take a lead in the coronavirus economic recovery, VFF president David Jochinke says.

Backing needed: Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said the agriculture sector needs to be supported by the Federal Government. Picture: James Wagstaff

AGRICULTURE could be a major contributor to Australia’s economic recovery post-coronavirus — if the Federal Government locks in behind the industry.

The Victorian Farmers Federation says agriculture needs a Government-backed campaign spruiking the job and training possibilities in the sector, in a bid to set it up as the next growth industry.

That campaign should feature an incentive package similar to those in the mining sector, including attractive salaries and family-friendly accommodation.

“The challenge is to break the stereotype of ‘Old McDonald’ and the ‘whingeing farmer’ — we need to speak positively about ourselves and acknowledge we need to create that career pathway,” VFF president David Jochinke said.

“There is a real shortage of industry professionals across the board, let alone getting quality trained labour.”

His comments come after the Federal Government announced an overhaul of Australia’s skills and training sector in a bid to kickstart work after the coronavirus crisis. Mr Jochinke — who will take part in The Weekly Times’ VirtuAg field days webinar tomorrow — said agriculture should be part of any revamp. “We also have to recognise that hands-on work is actually a skill and treated as such,” he said.

Mr Jochinke said the pandemic had highlighted again how reliant agriculture was on workers from other countries. “We need to make sure we can allow for that seasonality of labour, that people can travel the globe being an expert in a specific labour type, but we also need to ‘grow our own’ and give opportunities for Australian’s to do the same,” he said.

Mr Jochinke will join NSW Farmers president James Jackson and QFF chief executive Georgina Davis on The Weekly Times’ VirtuAg webinar, “COVID-19: China and ag’s way ahead”, tomorrow at 1pm. Register here.