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Tuesday, 24 March 2020 09:17

COVID-19: We’ve got this!

Written by  David Anderson, Rural News Editor 
Yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the country will be going into a nation-wide Level 4 lockdown from Wednesday 11:59pm. Agriculture will still be able to operate as it is an essential service. Yesterday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the country will be going into a nation-wide Level 4 lockdown from Wednesday 11:59pm. Agriculture will still be able to operate as it is an essential service.

OPINION: Amidst the coronavirus upheaval, one thing is certain – agriculture will see the NZ economy through.

The world still needs to eat and trade channels remain open. The bedrock of country’s economy is still agriculture and our main export is of course food.

Farms and orchards will carry on, and with our biggest market China turning a corner with its COVID-19 situation, demand for our produce will remain strong. The fundamentals of food supply and demand remain strong.

To get us through, farmers will need our support. They’ll need good, trustworthy information. 

They’ll need the usual inputs from the service and supply parts of the industry. 

They’ll need some breathing space from political moves that might restrict their ability to operate efficiently.

Rural News is a trusted source of information for farmers and we will help keep our farming and rural communities connected. With rural events banned for the foreseeable future, the role we play in keeping the sector connected and informed is more vital than ever.

In the parlance of these somewhat unsure times, you can be assured that Rural News will keep calm and carry on.

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