Cotton Australia backs Agricultures push for growth in the North
- By: "Farm Tender" News
- Cattle News
- Sep 02, 2018
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Cotton Australia has welcomed the findings of a federal study into agricultural growth in northern Australia.
The Northern Australia Water Resource Assessment was led by the CSIRO and studied the potential growth areas for fibre and food production in Australia’s north.
The study identified the potential for new dams, which could significantly boost the viability of irrigated cropping industries such as cotton.
The report also found boosting agriculture in the region could provide thousands of new jobs and inject billions of dollars into the country’s northern economy.
Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay says the study is good news for northern Australian farmers who are looking to move into growing higher value irrigated crops like cotton.
“The future of irrigated agriculture in northern Australia is looking brighter thanks to this study,” Mr Kay says.
“These findings provide further evidence for what the Australian cotton industry has long recognised and advocated: northern Australia is a valuable region for agricultural growth in this country, and cotton can play an integral role in forging this exciting new frontier.”
Mr Kay says the cotton industry is already expanding into northern Australia, and the study’s findings can now push that expansion further.
“The Australian cotton industry has for a long time invested in R&D in northern Australia with the aim of expanding where cotton can be successfully and viably grown,” he says.
“We’re currently seeing a number of innovative organisations and growers, particularly in Western Australia’s Ord and the gulf in Queensland, testing cotton on a large scale.”
”Cotton not only produces high-quality fibre that is in demand globally, but for every tonne of fibre there is more than a tonne of cotton seed produced, which is a highly valued cattle feed in northern Australia.”
“Cotton Australia looks forward to working with government and stakeholders to ensure the findings of this study don’t fall of the radar, and that we see real and meaningful investment in agriculture in northern Australia. The sustainable development of irrigated agriculture in northern Australia will be critical if we are to reach the National Farmers’ Federation target of $100 billion of agricultural exports by 2030.”
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