IN INDONESIA

Indonesian, international and Australian efforts in what will be a long-term response effort.

Australia’s Chief Veterinary Offcer, Dr Mark Schipp said the project would be delivered by the FAO in partnership with the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) operating out of the MOA offces in Jakarta.

“LSD and FMD present the most signifcant threats to Australia’s biosecurity integrity in decades. Providing onground technical support in Indonesia will help to mitigate the risks of the

Finding Farming Solutions To Climate Volatility

Australia’s farmers will be able to access proven practices and technologies to make their businesses more resilient and sustainable as conditions dry, thanks to a series of grants from the Future Drought Fund.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt said the Extension and Adoption of Drought Resilience Farming Practices grants would enable farmers and regional communities to build better drought practices into their businesses.

“Drought is a normal part of the Australian landscape, but we know we will see more frequent and more intense droughts thanks to climate change,” Minister Watt said.

“Farmers listen to other farmers, so these grants will mean farmers can share practices and tools that will shore up businesses before the next dry hits.

“I know that many parts of Australia are still dealing with the aftereffects of last year’s foods, but I also know that the next drought is always around the corner.

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102-104 Queen Elizabeth Drive CORAKI disease spreading in the region,” Dr Schipp said.

“This project will improve the ability to detect, control and prevent FMD and LSD in Indonesia and strengthen the capacity of national and local governments to arrest the further spread of these diseases.

“It will also allow livestock farmers and stakeholders to use best practices for prevention and control of FMD and LSD and improve communications between the Indonesian government and farmers.

“Australia remains free from both FMD and LSD. But it is critical we continue to

“What drought resilience looks like will be different from place to place, and there is no one-size-fts-all solution.

“We’re investing $13 million from the Future Drought Fund, through the Extension and Adoption of Drought Resilience Farming Practices program to provide 18 grants to organisations and farmers across Australia, which will enable a range of projects to go ahead.

“This includes a grant for Ag Excellence Alliance, who will work with 15 grower groups and four Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs across southern Australia to show farmers support our close neighbours to prevent or respond effectively to these diseases which can have a devastating effect on their food security and economic wellbeing.

“Helping our close neighbours in this way also has a fow-on protective effect to Australia and other countries in our region.

“Our strong partnerships with countries such as Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste is providing an opportunity for us to work together on issues of regional concern and also helps to safeguard our respective agriculture sectors and the industries on which they rely.

“This is one more way we are working to make sure how early sowing can be more effcient and help manage climate risks.

“In northern Australia, the NT Farmers Association will work with cattle farmers to adopt best practice cotton production, which supports diversifcation and provides an additional food source for livestock as conditions dry.

“Another project will help improve the proftability and productivity of wine, horticulture, grains, cotton, sugar and livestock producers on 75 farms across South Australia, Queensland, and northern NSW.

“Australia’s farmers are innovative and independent.

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our biosecurity system continues to protect the prosperity of our farmers, producers, and rural communities.”

The project, funded via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is part of the $10 million biosecurity support package for Indonesia jointly announced by Minister Watt and the Minister for Foreign Affairs in August 2022.

The Australian Government has committed to investing in new, long-term biosecurity investment to protect

We’ve already seen how our farmers are adapting to the changing climate.

“These initiatives mean proven ideas and technologies can spread further, readying agribusiness to carry on through the hard times.”

The Extension and Adoption of Drought Resilience Farming Practices program is part of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund which provides $100 million each year for programs and projects to support farmers and regional communities to build their drought resilience.

Australia from exotic diseases.

This funding has seen extra frontline biosecurity offcers employed, the donation of four million doses of FMD vaccines to Indonesia, the redeployment of detection dogs to northern airports and the introduction of sanitation foot mats at all international airports with fights from Indonesia.

For more information, including the full list of Extension and Adoption of Drought Resilience Farming Practices grant recipients, visit https://www.agriculture. gov.au/agriculture-land/ farm-food-drought/drought/ future-drought-fund/ extension-adoption-droughtresilience-farming-practicesgrants