Australian vegetable grower confidence has declined, according to an AusVeg survey.
AusVeg released the findings from their Grower Confidence survey last week, saying vegetable grower confidence had declined by 3.5 per cent during the July to September quarter, when compared with the previous quarter.
The survey involved a selection of 10 questions relating to how confident growers felt about key economic indicators, including macroeconomic confidence, investment confidence, market confidence and confidence in government policy.
Clyde grower Chris Schreurs said it could be challenging growing in a market, which at times was volatile and changed overnight.
Andrew Craigie, who grows vegetables near Devonport in Tasmania, said that given the dry conditions in his district, he wasn’t surprised confidence was down. “Last calendar year we had 30 per cent less rainfall than the previous year and this year has been even worse.
AusVeg chief executive Richard Mulcahy said Australian vegetable growers were becoming more uncertain about the sustainability of their future within the industry.
“If growers lack confidence in the industry they are less likely to invest and expand their operations, in some cases resolving to leave the industry altogether,” Mr Mulcahy said.
“These results are concerning for all stakeholders in the industry, as the most recent data on the gross value of the vegetable industry shows that it has declined by more than 6.88 per cent. A reduction in investment can have detrimental effects on industry jobs, growth and production.
