Future for ag is bright
OPINION: It is a privilege to welcome you all to this year's Central Districts Field Days, the country's largest regional field days.
The agri-food sector, which includes primary production, agricultural support services and all secondary food and agricultural manufacturing, is our largest sector – contributing $340.2m in GDP to the local economy over the year to December 2022 and employing 3,201 people. This is 22.6% of total local GDP and 24.2% of total employment.
Of total agri-food sector activity, primary production makes up $215.6m of agri-food sector GDP, primary industry support services contribute an additional $33.3m to the local economy while value-added agri-food manufacturing generates a further $91.3m to local economic activity.
Primary industry employment is the largest contributor to the local economy creating 1,696 jobs. Primary production support services contribute a further 390 local jobs while value-added manufacturing employs a further 1,115 people.
Of all agricultural activities in the district, dairy production is the largest primary sector earner contributing $109.5m in GDP and 714 jobs to our local economy. The contribution of the dairy sector to economic activity in the district is substantially larger than for the New Zealand economy as a whole.
To demonstrate the scale of the local industry relative to New Zealand, local dairy production contributed 7.3% of total GDP ($109.5m) and 5.5% of local jobs (714 jobs) to the district economy over the year to December 2022 compared with 1.9% of total national GDP and 1.1% of total jobs. Dairy production has been a stalwart in the economic performance of the district over a period of substantial disruption and is expected to continue to substantially bolster local economic activity over 2022.
Manawatū District has had substantial professional, scientific and technical services industry grow around our dominant food producing industries over the last 20-years.
Feilding boosts the largest stock saleyards in the Southern Hemisphere, situated in our town centre. These saleyards attract buyers and sellers from around NZ on a biweekly basis and are a key contributor to our local retail, hospitality and professional business community.
Feilding is also the home to Manfeild Park, with the agri event stadium which hosts many diverse agricultural and equestrian events such as the Central District Field days, NZ Dairy Event, A&P Shows etc.
The Manawatū District Council has proudly supported the rural community through good and hard times – including Covid and the adverse events which continue to challenge us.
It is great to have an event such as CD Field Days taking place this year as it will no doubt lift the spirits of the people of this district and the wider lower North Island. I commend the organisers for staging this brilliant event.
- Helen Worboys is mayor of the Manawatu District.
