Four pilot locations have been selected to support the development of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s Drought Resilience Self-Assessment Tool and Climate Services for Agriculture programs.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management, David Littleproud said four regions had been selected to represent a broad range of climatic regions with a focus on key commodities.
Mr Littleproud said the regions selected to participate in the pilot were Queensland Dry Tropics; NSW’s Condamine and Northern Tablelands; Victoria’s Mallee and south-east South Australia; as well as the Western Australian sheep-wheat belt.
“Feedback gathered in these regions will inform the design of the Drought Resilience Self-Assessment Tool and the Climate Services for Agriculture digital platform, to make sure both are useful to the agricultural sector,” Mr Littleproud said.
“The two initiatives will tailor climate risk, impact and resilience information to specific agricultural sectors in pilot regions, enabling farmers to prepare for future drought and climatic conditions,” he said.
“Farmers are key to the design and development of these important resources that will ultimately support their resilience, risk planning and profitability through future drought.”
Mr Littleproud said the Department’s programs would help farmers assess climate impacts on their farm businesses so that they could make informed decisions.
“Farmers who live in areas outside of the pilot regions are also encouraged to have input by visiting the Future Drought Fund website and accessing the products that will be released nationally by the end of June this year,” the Minister said.
Further information on the Department’s pilot programs, including how to participate, can be accessed at this PS News link.
