GISBORNE’S TAKE ON VEGETABLE GROWING CHALLENGES Words by Antony Heywood, General Manager : Vegetables New Zealand Inc.
The Gisborne Produce Growers Annual General Meeting had a good turnout in response to a season that encompassed drought, poor crop volumes, Covid-19 and a Council that is struggling to hear grower issues. Gisborne is not alone when it comes to grower issues with councils. The multitude of plan changes in regions across New Zealand are proving difficult for growers to understand and chart a forward path through to continued prosperity. My take on the key issues for Gisborne 1
How to meet Council requirements.
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How to obtain labour to harvest crops.
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How to provide food security, which is vital for rural communities like Gisborne.
Horticulture New Zealand, in conjunction with Vegetables New Zealand Inc. (VNZI) have developed pathways for the key issues facing Gisborne: 1. The New Zealand Good Agricultural Practice (NZGAP) Environmental Management System (EMS) add-on is available to all NZGAP growers. It provides a stepby-step process to develop and implement a Farm Environment Plan (FEP) to reduce environmental impact and meet regulatory requirements. 2. GoHorticulture is an initiative to encourage people into our industry and support them to embark on great careers. It involves a network of Career Progression Managers stationed around the country, and a dynamic website: https://gohorticulture.co.nz/ 3. Food security is a topic gaining traction after food shortages developed through the Covid-19 crisis. It is a topic about which HortNZ and VNZI have upped their discussions with the government in readiness for the development of crisis plans and the reform of the Resource Management Act.
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NZGROWER : AUGUST 2020
Probably the most pressing topic is understanding the pathway to gaining a consent for irrigation. If a grower is unable to renew or gain a consent, they are unable to grow a crop. Economic survival is then in question. What is obvious is the need to have a clear pathway for all growers to gain a consent, no matter which council they are dealing with. While each region and catchment will have different requirements based on activity, there are some common points to consider: • All farm systems will be affected economically by any plan change. • Water takes are likely to be limited to reasonable use. In over-allocated catchments, there may be no new water allocated, unless storage is created. • Activities need to manage non-point source discharge to reduce the effects from operations, and to prevent increases in catchment discharge limits. • Farm systems will need to demonstrate they are working to good management practice in many cases, and best management practices in some cases. • All farm systems will need to have a Farm Environment Plan by 2025. • Growers will need to provide evidence they are meeting the conditions of consent and implementing their Farm Environment Plan actions. Farm Environment Plans will become compulsory for all growers with land above 5ha in the coming years. Some councils are developing region specific approaches. HortNZ and the vegetable product groups are advocating for a nationally consistent framework built on the existing GAP assurance schemes, as an alternative approach for growers. I would recommend the NZGAP – EMS as it has an independent audit as a certifying outcome. This is recognised by councils as a high-level verifying endorsement.
