New Ministry for Primary Industries a 'ministry for exports'
"When the Hon David Carter was confirmed as the Minister for Primary Industries last December, we hoped a Ministry would follow," says Bruce Wills, Federated Farmers President.
"I am pleased to say that Federated Farmers made the call for a Ministry Primary Industries in 2009. Strategically, Federated Farmers sees the future as an integrated one.
"Whether it is aquaculture, dairy, forestry or wine, we have many issues that are common. Today is a defining one for the entire primary sector as we now have a Ministry and a Minister that are 'for' what we do.
"While there has been some pain as the Ministry's have come together, there will be a lot more gain for every New Zealander.
"Our primary industries account for over 70 percent of known merchandise exports. In terms of foreign exchange earnings, the primary industries are almost five times larger than tourism. I guess a short name for the new Ministry could well be the ministry for exports.
"It is incredibly positive that the primary sector is now under one roof. We can get a lot more synergies from being joined up instead of silos defined by food, agriculture, forestry, horticulture and fisheries. We are all part of one big industry.
"The primary industries are also a big employer with 88,980 filled jobs as of March 2010. The primary sector in fact employs a lot more people than those working in arts/recreation services and information media and telecommunications combined.
"That's only the tip of a primary industries iceberg as it directly supports jobs in manufacturing, and transport too. In fact, the primary industries help to underpin whole communities.
"That is what the new name and the word 'for' in the name suggests. It defines the Ministry and its mission to work with agriculture for a better future, economically, environmentally and socially.
"We can see the benefits of integration at the coal-face right now and this makes me optimistic about the future," Mr Wills concluded.