The Victorian Farmers Federation welcomes the ongoing discussions surrounding the creation of a National Drought Strategy but insists farmers enduring drought are not sufficiently supported.
“As climate variability increases, building drought resilience as a part of a national strategy is essential for the long term success of the agricultural industry. However, we cannot neglect Victorian farmers who are still suffering through the worst drought on record,” said Mr David Jochinke, VFF President.
“The VFF have secured a meeting with Minister for Agriculture Jaclyn Symes and representatives from Agriculture Victoria to discuss the current drought conditions in Victoria and work with her department to develop a strategy that assists Victorian farmers now and into the future.
“A localised drought strategy for Victorian farmers needs to encompass animal welfare outcomes, financial support, long-term business resilience, and mental and physical health.
“The recent additional funding for On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Support Grants is offering assistance to many producers. However, east Gippsland and north-western Victoria are experiencing the worst drought on record and require further assistance to get through these extremely difficult conditions,” said Mr Jochinke.