Santa's present for the primary sector - an FTA with India
Primary sector leaders have welcomed the announcement of a Free Trade Agreement between India and New Zealand.
Horticulture New Zealand presented its inaugural President’s Award to lifelong kiwifruit industry supporter and grower Ian Greaves last week.
HortNZ president Julian Raine presented the award at the Horticulture New Zealand conference awards dinner in Rotorua.
The new award is intended to recognise outstanding and inspiring leadership within the horticulture industry.
Greaves has spent his life in the Bay of Plenty where he has experienced the ups and downs of the horticulture industry.
In 2010, Psa disease began wiping out New Zealand kiwifruit crop and Greaves realised that growers needed support. He developed a unique framework to give rural people the opportunity to communicate about their feelings and situations.
“Ian provided life-saving pastoral support to growers during this time,” says Raine.
“He has made a positive difference to our industry by developing a system that deals with the seriousness of life during rural crisis.”
“He has helped rural people to recognise stress is something that does not have to be endured on your own.”
Other awards presented at the event were the horticulture industry’s premier award, the Bledisloe Cup, to Hawke’s Bay consultant John Wilton, and industry service awards to berry fruit scientist Geoff Langford and former HortNZ chief executive Peter Silcock.
John Wilton was recognised for his long-serving commitment to the pipfruit industry.
The industry service awards were also presented for the first time.
Grace Su, a recent optometry graduate from the University of Auckland, is moving to Tauranga to start work in a practice where she worked while participating in the university's Rural Health Interprofessional Programme (RHIP).
Two farmers and two farming companies were recently convicted and fined a total of $108,000 for environmental offending.
According to Ravensdown's most recent Market Outlook report, a combination of geopolitical movements and volatile market responses are impacting the global fertiliser landscape.
Environment Canterbury, alongside industry partners and a group of farmers, is encouraging farmers to consider composting as an environmentally friendly alternative to offal pits.
A New Zealand dairy industry leader believes the free trade deal announced with India delivers wins for the sector.
The Coalition Government will need the support of at least one opposition party to ratify the free trade deal with India.

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