FEDERAL Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Barnaby Joyce has put $1.3 million towards grants to boost access to Asian markets for small exporters of kangaroo and red meat.
His announcement made today will come under the federal government’s Package Assisting Small Exporters (PASE) Program.
Mr Joyce said the grants continue to deliver on the Coalition government’s election commitment to support small exporters through its $15 million, four-year program.
“Access to premium overseas markets is an important element of driving profits back through the farmgate of our nation’s farmers,” he said.
“The Coalition government’s objective is to advocate for the best possible returns to producers in the kangaroo industry and indeed, other emerging niche markets.
“More than $800,000 will be made available to promote this delicious, healthy meat into Asia, through industry-to-industry and government-to-government advocacy as well as through promotional work.”
Mr Joyce said a further $500,000 would be provided to the NSW Farmers’ Association to develop alternative supply chains for small beef producers and exporters.
“This would include supply chain mapping, developing partnerships with key stakeholders and investigating potential new Asian markets,” he said.
“A delegation of farmers will visit overseas markets and share what they have learned to open up new opportunities for red meat producers.
“These grants are timely.
“We’re giving targeted support on the back of historic trade agreements with China, Japan and Korea that will mean real returns to the nation’s farmers.”
The Minister’s office said under the PASE program, a total of $6.6m (GST inclusive) has been committed so far to small exporters of fish, meat, egg, dairy, grains and horticulture.
That amount was in addition to $1.3m already provided in rebates to assist small exporters with export registration charges.
Further information on the Package Assisting Small Exporters Programme can be found at the Department of Agriculture’s website.
