Farmers struggle with water and feed shortages
The drought in western parts of the North Island is reaching crisis point with many farmers from Northland to Taranaki having to truck in water and feed for their stock at great expense.
The funding, which totals $473,261, comes from the Ministry for Primary Industries Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund and will go towards the Farming for the Future Leader’s Programme.
“Supporting these women to reach their farming leadership potential will deliver long lasting economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits to New Zealand,” Associate Agriculture Minister Meka Whaitiri says.
The programme will pilot a programme of wrap-around services for women, developing training content and a central knowledge hub as well as providing coaching to support female business group leaders in the dairy sector.
“The members of the programme will create a positive impact that is far reaching, by providing channels to share solutions and innovations with their businesses, partners, farm teams, neighbours and communities,” says Whaitiri.
“The Government is committed to working with regional communities to help them reach their economic and social potential.
“These strong social connections and access to tools and support from this programme will help build resilience, both for these women and for their farming businesses,” Whaitiri says.
Jules Benton, chief executive of DWN, says the programme will empower farming women to create innovative solutions to a variety of challenges and issues facing farmers.
“But the truly exciting part of this programme is the ability of those who are part of it to share their learnings with their communities and the 11,000 DWN members,” says Benton.
She says the primary goal of the programme is to enable and empower DWN members to farm for the future so the sector, which she says is experiencing rapid change, can grow and adapt with a positive focus. “We encourage our members to challenge the status quo and this programme will allow, not only that, but an on-sharing of their experiences and knowledge to help others in the group drive change in their own environments, community and businesses,” Benton says.
“I truly believe that this professional development will lead to great things in our farming sector; creating knowledge, leadership and innovation to empower the industry and aid with decision making in the future.”
