'Don't forget the East Coast'
Don't forget East Coast growers hit by Cyclone Gabrielle one year ago.
Maatu Akonga, assistant manager at T&G Global, took out the title of 2022 Hawke’s Bay Young Fruit Grower of the Year on Friday night.
Akonga vied for the title against six other contestants in a series of theoretical and practical modules designed to exercise their skills and knowledge on pruning, manual handling, health and safety, export market requirements, and quality control among other topics.
“I feel very humbled and honoured to have won,” he says. “I learnt a lot from each module, identified skills that I could improve on and challenged myself.
“My colleagues and mentors encouraged me to enter the competition and I’m glad I did. It has given me the opportunity to see where I am at in my career and to grow my skills further.”
Akonga says one highlight of the competition was meeting other young growers.
“The other contestants were great,” he says. “I’ve built some good friendships and developed industry connections with a range of companies too.
“For those that are thinking about entering the competition, I would say, step outside your comfort zone – you never know what you could achieve.”
Akonga will compete for his share of $30,000 in prizes at the National Young Grower of the Year final in Nelson on September 21-22.
HortNZ chief executive Nadine Tunley says the competition provides the next generation of growers with a valuable opportunity to further their careers.
“Our young growers are the future leaders of our industry,” she says.
Tunley says the competitions help growers test their limits and realise their potential.
“They also provide exceptional professional development and networking opportunities.
“Contestants walk away with greater confidence, new skills and connections and a boost to their horticulture career pathway.”
She says a combination of extreme weather events, the Covid-19 pandemic and increasing red tape have made the past few years particularly tough for growers.
“That’s why being able to hold events such as the Young Grower of the Year again is important. They are an opportunity for us to come together, catch up, celebrate our young growers’ success and foster growth and resilience in our sector,” she says.
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.
OPINION: A mate of yours truly wants to know why the beef schedule differential is now more than 45-50 cents…
OPINION: Your canine crusader understands that MPI were recently in front of the Parliamentary Primary Sector Select Committee for an…