The Australian Government has released the inaugural Future Drought Fund Annual Report, covering 2020-2021.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, David Littleproud said the FDF is a flagship of the Australian Government's Drought Response, Resilience and Preparedness Plan.
"On the 1st of July 2020, we launched eight Future Drought Fund programs designed to build resilience to future drought," Minister Littleproud said.
"Today we unveil our first annual report which details the achievements of the Fund in its foundational year and provides a basis for seeking feedback through a submission process. It also sets a framework for annual reporting on progress and achievement.
"The Future Drought Fund provides a sustainable and ongoing source of funding to make agriculture more productive and profitable and enhance the wellbeing of our farming communities and the sustainability of our farming landscapes."
In the first year, the FDF has achieved:
- We've established 8 Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs across Australia to drive regionally focused efforts to develop, extend, adopt and commercialise drought resilient practices and technologies. With the Hub nodes we have over 40 locations to work with farmers and communities across Australia and listen to their priorities.
- We've worked with state and territory governments to establish tailored programs to deliver training to farmers on risk planning, and to develop local led community plans to manage drought risks.
- We've released the first prototypes of online tools to make climate risk and resilience information more accessible and useful for farmers, agricultural businesses and communities so they can better understand drought and other climate risks.
- We've partnered with the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal to establish programs to bolster the role community organisations, networks, leaders and mentors play in driving action to get better prepared for drought, and to support people in times of drought.
- We have 80 on-ground projects underway to trial and support adoption of land management practices that can lessen the effects of drought on agricultural productivity.
- "It's been a great first year, and the Australian Government will continue to stand by our farmers and rural communities who experience the challenges of life on the land firsthand," Minister Littleproud said.
"This inaugural annual report is part of an annual cycle of communicating and engaging with people on the Fund. It will be followed by a consultation process where people can provide their input on what works best to build drought preparedness."
The Future Drought Fund annual report coincides with the Daily Telegraph's third annual Bush Summit.
Submissions are welcome on the work of the FDF. To have your say, visit haveyoursay.awe.gov.au/future-drought-fund.
Fast Facts:
- The $5 billion Future Drought Fund provides secure, continuous funding for drought resilience initiatives, with $100 million available each year to help Australian farmers, agricultural businesses and communities to better prepare for drought
- The Future Drought Fund is an important part of the Australian Government's Drought Response, Resilience and Preparedness Plan to deliver the support Australian farmers and communities need to be sustainable and productive.
