Farmers' innovative recovery and resilience projects on Kangaroo Island will get a $1 million boost with the Marshall Liberal Government providing funding to Livestock SA and Agriculture KI.
This latest support will further encourage co-investment, collaboration, innovation and long-term recovery and resilience projects for Kangaroo Island primary producers.
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham said this new funding builds on multiple support programs which have been rolled out on Kangaroo Island in the wake of the devastating bushfires in January 2020.
"The Marshall Liberal Government is doing everything we can to help our farmers on Kangaroo Island bounce back after the devastating bushfires," Minister Basham said.
"This new $1 million funding to Livestock SA and Agriculture Kangaroo Island will help deliver new projects which support long-term recovery and resilience. This is recognition that the road to recovery can be a long one and by working with industry we are making sure support is targeted and effective.
"The relationship between LivestockSA and AgKI has been productive and the funding will help build a strong future for farmers on the island. This funding follows on from extensive bushfire recovery work already funded and undertaken by the State Government on Kangaroo Island."
In additional to supporting small businesses, tourism and wineries, major initiatives have included:
- More than $12 million being provided to primary producers under the emergency bushfire response grant program.
- Provision of a $600,000 On-farm Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme.
- More than $3 million being dedicated to the removal of feral pigs from the island.
- Extensive funding for weed identification and eradication projects.
LivestockSA CEO Andrew Curtis welcomed the funding and said they would work closely with AgKI, the peak body for the farming and primary produce sector on the island.
"This funding will help ensure that the island's agriculture sector continues to be both sustainable and profitable," Mr Curtis said.
"Projects considered for this funding will be assessed to ensure that they achieve long-term benefits for the island. Examples of the types of innovations include water security, farm infrastructure, pest and weed management, or other creative initiatives that make the farming community more resilient and improve the ability to respond to events in the future."
This funding is part of the Local Economic Recovery Program funded by Commonwealth and Government of South Australia under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. If you are interested in developing a project please express your interest by contacting [email protected].
