A new grant, to be administered by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, is aimed at helping the State’s prawn farmers to embrace digital technology.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities, Mark Furner said the Australian Prawn Farmers Association (APFA) would receive $200,000 towards accelerating the adoption of digital systems on members’ prawn farms.
“The COVID-19 pandemic created serious challenges for the aquaculture sector, but the Government has worked closely with industry to find solutions for emerging problems,” Mr Furner said.
Executive Officer of the APFA, Kim Hooper said the grant would help transform the industry to be more resilient and sustainable by building a Prawn Skills Digital Training Hub.
“Australia’s prawn farming industry is projected to grow substantially in the next five years, creating 3,200 direct and indirect jobs in Queensland alone,” Ms Hooper said.
“The Prawn Skills Digital Training Hub will provide education and training material free to the industry so that farmers can meet the increased demand for their product, increase their profitability and environmental sustainability.”
She said the project would be managed in conjunction with Central Queensland University and supported by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation on behalf of the Australian Government.
Mr Furner said digital technology created new ways of doing things that added value to the agricultural sector by working more precisely, efficiently and sustainably.
“It offers innovative ways to connect producers to consumers, reduce problems related to remoteness in rural communities and attract the next generation to jobs in the industry,” he said.
