AU citrus growers expand into Southeast Asia
Allen and Susan Jenkin established Ironbark Citrus in 1990 now spanning 170 hectares and featuring 94,000 mandarin trees with all fruit exported into Asia.
Like many horticulture farms the couple utilise seasonal workers but once work on their farm has finished they move on and the couple wanted to use the knowledge and experience they had gained establishing their business in Australia to help others.
Their vision was to build a citrus nursery overseas and plant trees with local farmers which would see fruit packed and exported as trees came into production. While Laos farmers have access to land and water, and are experienced subsistence farmers, they often do not have the capital or access to knowledge and markets to establish commercial crops like citrus.
Mr and Mrs Jenkin established a loan fund, providing loans to establish and maintain their orchards until they begin to produce incomes. Repayments will begin when the trees start to crop, and should be paid back after three years. Ultimately, the couple wants to enrich others lives and lend a hand helping Laos enter the industry.
“The day we can go to Laos and just wander in and admire the orchards, with the business totally run by Laos people and we don’t have to do anything, that’s the goal.
“The whole idea is to help Lao people improve their own lives, it’s all for Laos people.”
source: queenslandcountrylife.com.au
