The Northern Territory Farmers Association has unveiled its plan to see the value of plant industries in the Territory double within the next 10 years, to $600 million.
Last year, the NT produced $251 million worth of produce with mangoes ($112.8 million) and melons ($42 million) as the most valuable sectors. NT Farmers president Simon Smith said expanding existing industries and developing new crops was the key: "When we look at where the markets and economics lie, cotton is one that's coming up regularly as a future anchor crop. There's been some successful trials in the Ord recently and it looks like they will have a cotton gin in the next few years, which opens up opportunities in the Douglas Daly and Katherine region.”
NT Primary Industry Minister Ken Vowles has told growers he "really wants to push cotton", and the Department of Primary Industry is expected to conduct several cotton trials next year.
Despite its push for agricultural expansion, NT Farmers maintains its opposition to large-scale dams in the Territory, advocating instead for a model of "start small and grow big".
Source: abc.net.au
