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Manawatu Mayor Michael Ford says the Central District Field Days are good for relationship building.
Manawatu Mayor Michael Ford says the district sees itself as the agribusiness capital of the lower North Island.
"We have many agribusiness companies ion Feilding, as well as companies selling farm machinery and other rural services, and our sale yard attracts buyers and sellers from a white hinterland," he says.
Ford says a new industrial zone has just opened which will attract new agribusiness companies.
He says there is also a new subdivision opening to cater for the influx of people working in the town and district.
In the past, Feilding has been seen as something of a dormitory town for nearby Palmerston North and while both places have close links through the primary sector, Ford says they just wish to remain complementary to each other.
"Regional field days like this are becoming attractive for exhibitors, farmer, horticulturalists and rural professionals because, for an exhibitor, it puts them directly in touch with local people, and for visitors, they can get to and from the event just a day."
Ford says the field days are good for relationship building and this interaction between exhibitors and potential buyers is often the beginning of long term arrangements.
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