Budget boost for primary sector

The Government is backing New Zealand’s vital primary sectors by boosting funding for biosecurity, research, food safety and animal welfare compliance.

Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor said the Government was committed to working alongside farmers and that recent biosecurity outbreaks had shown the need to strengthen New Zealand’s protections against pests and disease.

“The Budget committed an extra $12.3 million to boost our biosecurity systems. An extra $21 million has been committed to stop the spread of wilding conifers, which is a significant increase in the government’s annual investment.

“As we face threats from more visitors and a changing climate we must adapt. We want to protect the value farmers and growers get for their work.

“New Zealand’s food and fibre products have an excellent reputation overseas, but we need to protect and build that up.