Challenges for agriculture and horticulture in the Sydney Basin
The Sydney Basin produces $1 billion worth of agricultural and horticultural products a year, including $235 million of vegitables - most of the vegitables sold in Sydney Markets - and $71 million worth of mushrooms.
In October 2004 the Board visited several properties to see how vocational education and training is meeting the needs of farming community, as well as of the environment, in the Sydney Basin
The industry faces challenges - changing regulations and land use, creeping urban sprawl and community expectations about safe, healthy food.
The Education and Training Plan for Sustainable Agriculture in the Sydney Basin
To help farmers and market-gardeners meet these challenges, the NSW Department of Education and Training and NSW Agriculture developed the Education and Training Plan for Sustainable Agriculture in the Sydney Basin. The Plan aims to provide skills they need to continue to provide safe, quality food and at the same time improve the environment.
Water Management
At the Chinese market garden in Leppington, the Board inspected a system that recycles run-off water. This saves both water and the many thousands of dollars a year previously spent buying water. The property is used as an example in formal training of environmentally-sound use of water
Safe chemical use and pest management
The Board also saw large hydophonic greenhouses producing tomatoes and cucumbers. Their owner, the President of the NSW Greenhouse Growers Association, encourages all members to undertake training in safe chemical use and pest management.
Better Land Use
Next on the itinerary was a Vietnamese market garden in Austral that specialises in Asian vegitables. The NSW Department of Education and Training, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the NSW Department of Environment and Conservation have worked together to make significant improvements in drainage and production on the site. It is now a demonstration property for other growers.
Board members also stopped in at the Richmond College of TAFE NSW Western Sydney Institute. The campus is a major centre for vocational Education and training in agriculture, animal care, horse and horticulture education.
Flexible Training Delivery
The last visit was to the Elf Mushroom farm. Elf is one of the largest producers of white mushrooms in Australia. It employs over 100 people. Many of them started as trainees under the New Apprenticeship program. Elf has developed technology which is equal to or better than anywhere else in the world. Staff from Richmond College of TAFE NSW Western Sydney Institute come to deliver training on site.
Board members remarked on how important to the Plan's effectiveness were the partnerships among the Department of Education and Training, NSW Agriculture, TAFE and the market gardeners and farmers involved.
The Board was very impressed with what is being achieved under the Plan for farmers, market gardeners and the environment of Sydney Basin. The Plan is clearly providing a great service, delivering the right kind of training, when growers need it, where they need it.
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