LAST night’s Mitchell Shire Council Questions and Hearings Committee meeting was set to hear a petition from Protect Our Farms Inc to call for an Agricultural Advisory Committee.
The petition, which has 628 signatures and has been seen by The North Central Review, is looking to be established in a similar vein to the Heritage Advisory Committee and the Environmental Advisory Committee.
The purpose of the proposed committee is, as written by Protect Our Farms, is “to establish an agriculture and agribusiness advisory committee to provide strategic advice and improve understanding of food and fibre security, land use, climate impacts and other issues relating to agriculture and agribusiness within the Shire”.
The rationale for the petition is that farming communities should be able to provide direction for governments that are considering policies, practices and processes that impact farmers livelihoods.
Protect Our Farms put out a five-point reasoning for an Agricultural Advisory Committee to be established.
“Stewardship, productivity and viability of our farms is becoming increasingly important for food and fibre security,” they wrote.
“Water and other resources are in high demand, and it is important that farmers in peri-urban areas have a voice that is equally as compelling as that of urban growth and development.
“Farms and communities dependent on agribusiness, experience significant shifts in climatic and economic conditions. Protecting these communities and assets is important economically as it contributes to the mental health and wellbeing of those who live and work on the land.
“Farming communities have experienced the unintended consequences of small-town school and hospital closures and the impact of water trading disrupting the viability of farms with water rights – in some places viable farming land has been left dormant and unproductive.
“Ensuring the ongoing recognition of the importance of the “food bowl” close to markets and efficient transport corridors that protect the quality, green credentials and affordability of our food and fibre production.”
Three people were due to speak in support of the petition last night.