Government to back more initiatives to boost food and fibre workforce
Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor has announced a series of initiatives to fill critical jobs in the food and fibre sector.
According to O'Connor's highly spun press statement, everything is hunky dory for the country's honey industry.
However, the reality is somewhat different with NZ's honey producers saying O'Connor's sunny claims about the sector "have no relevance to the current situation".
It seems unless they are producing manuka honey, it is very tough going.
This can be seen in wholesale prices for table-grade clover honey at $3-$/kg, while production costs are around $6-$8/kg.
Even O'Connor's own ministry, MPI, acknowledges the struggle the sector is going through with its 2020 Apiculture Monitoring Report.
Less spin, more facts please minister!
