Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) will lead the Cyclone Marcia Agricultural Recovery Project working directly with affected primary producers in developing recovery plans to better manage the business risks associated with climate variability, including practical management options for future responses to natural disaster events.
The project will be funded through the Australian and Queensland Government’s jointly funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements Category D recovery funding package announced in June 2015. $750,000 has been allocated through the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) to engage Industry Recovery Officers to work directly with affected primary producers to assist their disaster planning and resilience for future natural disasters.
QFF President Joanne Grainger said QFF’s role would be to oversee the Industry Recovery Officers (IRO) who are being engaged to facilitate the sustained planning effort required by producers to ensure their resilience and preparedness for future natural disasters.
“QFF will operate in partnership with AgForce, Growcom, Nursery & Garden Industry Queensland (NGIQ), and the Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation (QDO) by working with affected agribusiness to improve resilience.
“The Project will help provide access government and other assistance.
“QFF, through these IROs, will arrange additional support from professionals such as financial advisors, technical advisors and health professionals whilst undertaking recovery planning to improve resilience to future events.
“Cyclone Marcia affected a wide range of agricultural enterprises, including dairy farms, broad acre grazing and cropping producers, horticultural growers with a wide variety of crops, production nurseries and nursery retail outlets.
“By working with affected farmers and industries, QFF will be able to provide a service tailored to address the geographic context of the affected areas and the recovery issues presented by Cyclone Marcia and potential future natural disaster events.
“QFF will draw upon its previous experience in resilience management over a number of severe natural disasters including Cyclones Larry (2006) and Yasi (2011), the 2011 Queensland floods and flooding associated with Cyclone Oswald (2013).
“I thank the Australian and Queensland Governments for their commitment to working with industry in developing recovery plans associated with future climate variability”.
