The Government is coming to the aid of drought-stricken farmers in Northland, says Agriculture Minister David Carter.
“The Government has declared Northland as a medium-level drought zone, following a recent meeting of the Northland Rural Support Trust, and a drought recovery package is now in place to help affected farmers,” says Mr Carter.
The Government has announced it will give drought assistance to farmers in Gisborne and Wairoa the same day a heavy rain warning was issued for the parched region.
Australia could face the biggest climate change challenges of any developed country, says its Environment Minister Peter Garrett.
Stretching from southern Queensland to the South Australian coast, the area covers one-seventh of Australia. It includes some of the country’s best grazing and cropping land, and its $9 billion agricultural industry grows an important proportion of the nation’s food.
But the river systems are in crisis, threatening the environmental health of the region and in turn those industries that rely on a flourishing river system.
Climate Watch