AGRICULTURE contributed more than half a billion dollars to the economy of the Tablelands in far north Queensland in 2015, a new agriculture profile has revealed.
The profile puts the combined value of the region’s 42 large agricultural industries at $552 million.
Agriculture has posted a 30 per cent increase in value over the last four years, despite the impact of prolonged drought in some parts of the region.
Agriculture Minister Leanne Donaldson said the impressive growth demonstrated the strength of the local industry and its importance to the Tablelands.
“Since 2011 there have been significant expansions in avocado, citrus and sugar, the emergence of new commodities like blueberries and new varieties of traditional crops such as mangoes,” Ms Donaldson said.
“The sector is a great source of employment and pumps money into the community.”
Ms Donaldson used a recent trade mission overseas to promote the region’s produce.
“While recently on a trade mission to Jakarta, Hong Kong and Beijing I was able to meet directly with industry and government officials and to profile Queensland produce to industry leaders, Asian importers and distributors,” Ms Donaldson said.
“The growing Asian middle class means expanding opportunities for export growth as they look to areas like the Tablelands to provide high quality, premium produce.”
Dr Geoff Dickinson, a Mareeba-based senior horticulturist with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF), said the department had just updated the region’s agriculture profile for the first time since 2011.
“The banana industry is the most valuable to the Tablelands, worth $91 million,” Mr Dickinson said.
“Avocado is second with a value of $83 million. Other notable industries are mango ($52 million), sugar cane ($39 million), beef cattle ($35 million), dairy cattle ($34 million) and poultry ($30 million), he said.
Blueberries, a new agricultural industry on the Tablelands, are now worth $11 million. Sweet potatoes, an old industry making a comeback are now worth $5 million.
Both these industries are highly labour intensive and have brought many new seasonal jobs to the region, Dr Dickinson said.