The Australian New Crops Newsletter

Issue No 7, January 1997.

NOTICE: Hard copies of the Australian New Crops Newsletter are available from the publisher, Dr Rob Fletcher. Details of availability are included in the Advice on Publications Available.

10.7 A grower initiative

Reduced irrigation allocations in a Central Queensland valley have meant that due to their dependence on high water usage, high return crops are no longer possible. Valley farmers have experienced a 50% drop in income which has been exacerbated by the continuing drought.

A community group consisting of farmers and businessmen has taken up the challenge to assist in the establishment of a new industry based on the production and processing of herbs and spices.

A series of steps has been followed to encourage community adoptions and success has been due to:

  1. recognition of a need by both the researcher and the potential adoptee and the subsequent meeting of that need
  2. presentation of the concept as a whole, inclusive of business and marketing plan and extension strategy
  3. early inclusion of the community and the development of a shared vision
  4. strong, but facilitative leadership
  5. careful preplanning
  6. continual media exposure, which is invaluable in maintaining momentum.

Contact:
Jane Parker
Telephone: (079) 921 044
Facsimile: (079) 923 468

Any claims made by authors in the Australian New Crops Newsletter are presented by the Editors in good faith. Readers would be wise to critically examine the circumstances associated with any claims to determine the applicability of such claims to their specific set of circumstances. This material can be reproduced, with the provision that the source and the author (or editors, if applicable) are acknowledged and the use is for information or educational purposes. Contact with the original author is probably wise since the material may require updating or amendment if used in other publications. Material sourced from the Australian New Crops Newsletter cannot be used out of context or for commercial purposes not related to its original purpose in the newsletter

Contact: Dr Rob Fletcher, School of Land and Food, The University of Queensland Gatton College, 4345; Telephone: 07 5460 1311 or 07 5460 1301; Facsimile: 07 5460 1112; International facsimile: 61 7 5460 1112; Email: r.fletcher@mailbox.uq.edu.au

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originally created by: GK; latest update 6 June 1999 by: RF