Money to cope with drought
Regional Mallee communities will share in $114,790 in Federal Government funding to help them better prepare for drought.
Mallee Sustainable Farming, Charlton Neighbourhood House and Birchip Cropping Group are among latest recipients of a Future Drought Fund Networks to Build Drought Resilience program.
Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the grants would support community projects.
“The program focuses on local initiatives to enable agricultural communities to be better prepared for the impacts of drought,” he said.
Member for Mallee Anne Webster said building drought resilience in Mallee would benefit the entire Australian agriculture sector.
“The stronger individual communities are, the more robust our industry becomes as a result. The projects in Mallee will boost community connectedness and help local communities better prepare for drought,” she said.
“Mallee Sustainable Farming Inc. will receive $44,290 for the project, which will create an online learning community to help farmers manage soil in drought.
“Charlton Neighbourhood House has $21,000 to support its Buloke First People’s Art Trail project.
“Birchip Cropping Group has received $49,500 to fund its project ‘Filling the GAPP’, a project that will focus on growth, adoption, productivity and profit. BCG will host a series of networking activities across the region during 2022.”
Birchip Cropping Group chief executive Fiona Best said providing opportunities for the farming community to establish professional networks to exchange ideas, challenges and solutions would be a key part of the BCG project.
“Farm business resilience can be enhanced by having a strong support network of peers to engage with. This is particularly important during times of drought,” she said.
The $3.75-million Networks to Build Drought Resilience program is part of a total Australian government investment of $19.2-million in leadership, mentoring, community capacity building and small-community infrastructure to help build drought resilience.
Dr Webster encouraged organisations across her electorate to apply directly for a second grant round to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal.
She said applications were open until November 15 and people could find out more online at www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/drought/future-drought-fund/networks-build-drought-resilience.