Organic growers support policy
WELLINGTON: The Green Party’s agriculture policy is being given the green thumb by organic growers, but the National Party is labelling it a slap in the face.
If elected, the Green Party wants to establish a $297 million fund to help farmers transition to regenerative and organic farming.
The party also wants a levy on the use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilisers, phasing in stronger limits in the freshwater standards, to progressively reduce nitrogen pollution.
The announcement was made on Saturday at Logan Kerr and Dominique Schacherer’s organic farm in Leeston.
Mr Kerr and Ms Schacherer grow salad greens, potatoes, beetroot, onions, carrots and ‘‘basically everything that can grow in the climate around Canterbury’’ on their roughly 20ha farm.
Mr Kerr said it was fantastic that support might finally be given to those who wanted to farm organically.
‘‘It’s an extremely difficult thing to get into farming unless you come from a farming background . . . and if there was support given to farmers to be able to do that, that’s an awesome thing,’’ he said.
Soil & Health Association spokeswoman Jenny Lux said the party’s policy of creating a New Zealand sustainable food certification could finally help the country meet its ‘‘100% Pure’’ aspiration.
The association also welcomed the policy of capital investment and other support for growers wanting to transition to regenerative organic.
‘‘The setup costs are often a major barrier to changing farming systems,’’ Ms Lux said.
But the National Party has labelled the policy a ‘‘slap in the face’’ for farmers.
Its agriculture spokesman, David Bennett, said the proposed nitrogen reduction limits were madness and would ‘‘kill dairying’’ across the country.
Mr Bennett said now was not the time to be putting the brakes on the export industry.
‘‘We are facing the worst economic downturn in 160 years and agriculture will lead our postCovid recovery,’’ he said.
‘‘The Greens’ policy is yet another assault on Kiwi farmers after the Labourled Government hit them with freshwater reforms that, in some cases, are unworkable and will shackle their ability to innovate while piling costs on to a sector that is vitally important to our country.’’
He said National supported having cleaner waterways in New Zealand, but there were smarter ways to achieve this.
Maori Party coleader Debbie NgarewaPacker said the Greens’ policy had already been announced by the party in July.
‘‘It’s good that the Green Party have picked up our policy for a $300 million fund to support farmers, and have joined us in responding to environmental groups by committing to phase out synthetic fertilisers,’’ she said. — RNZ
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