Thursday, 18 June 2015 11:47

The people problem

Written by 
Special agricultural trade envoy Mike Petersen (left) and Fonterra director Michael Spaans at the launch of KPMG’s Agribusiness Report at Fieldays Special agricultural trade envoy Mike Petersen (left) and Fonterra director Michael Spaans at the launch of KPMG’s Agribusiness Report at Fieldays

Ranked sixth in importance by industry leaders is the need to develop future leaders. 

KPMG’s Ian Proudfoot says the primary sector needs people from a diverse range of backgrounds –  including app developers and consumer experience experts, as much as scientists and farm labourers.  “There is no silver bullet for attracting people into a primary sector career given the low profile the industry has in schools and the historic perceptions of those who influence career choices.

“The recurring theme of our discussions was that the issue is too big for any single organisation to address [by itself]. 

“There is an urgent need for a well-designed, carefully messaged and widely communicated pan-industry career awareness initiative. It must explain what the primary sector is, what it produces, who it sells to and what it contributes to New Zealand. It must be clear that the industry offers a huge diversity of career options – jobs that require many different skills, with ambition and a desire to succeed as the only common attributes.” 

Proudfoot says any strategy must lift the engagement with schools and universities, especially in cities where young people gain only limited insight into the primary sector and are presented with few obvious pathways into careers. 

He says sector leaders need to get into schools and tell students their career stories, and companies need to support teachers to incorporate primary sector themes into the curriculum. School camps need to become farm stay experiences, and urban farms developed to enable every kid to gain industry awareness.

More like this

Risky business

OPINION: In the same way that even a stopped clock is right twice a day, economists sometimes get it right.

Bagrie bags banks

OPINION: Noted economist and self-promoter Cameron Bagrie took one look at KPMG's recently released Financial Institutions Performance Survey on banks and zeroes in one key number that suggests banks are so risk averse in this country that they are probably stifling growth and innovation.

Organic Dairy Hub liquidation process continues

The liquidation of failed co-operative Organic Dairy Hub is continuing, and net proceeds will be distributed to farmer shareholders once final tax obligations have been met, according to the liquidators.

Featured

Editorial: Credit where it's due

OPINION: While farmers are busy and diligently doing their best to deal with unwanted gasses, the opponents of farming - namely the Greens and their mates - are busy polluting the atmosphere with tirades of hot air about what farmers supposedly aren't doing.

Farmers Lead Sustainability Push: Woodchip bioreactor cuts nitrate runoff in Manawatu

Claims that farmers are polluters of waterways and aquifers and 'don't care' still ring out from environmental groups and individuals. The phrase 'dirty dairying' continues to surface from time to time. But as reporter Peter Burke points out, quite the opposite is the case. He says, quietly and behind the scenes, farmers are embracing new ideas and technologies to make their farms sustainable, resilient, environmentally friendly and profitable.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Red faced

OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…

Cold comfort

One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter