Page 19 - Tropic Magazine Issue 15

INDUSTRY • AGRICULTURE

Smashing stone fruit harvest

In this special report, Tropic digs into the agricultural sector’s
labor force debate.

Words Renee Cluff

Do you smell that pungent sweetness in
the air? Who is picking all this fruit?
Yes, it is the distinct scent of rotting
mangoes. Love it or hate it, the smell
marks a prosperous time of the year The labour force is made up of a mix
in Tropical North Queensland as the of locals, backpackers and seasonal
Christmas harvest ramps up. This year, workers from the Pacific islands.
it is set to be an abundant season. Leanne Kruss oversees recruitment
The Mareeba/Dimbulah and Bowen/ processes in her role as the Queensland
Burdekin regions are expected to pick Agriculture Workforce Network
and pack 5-million trays combined. Manager for FNQ.
Deputy Chairman of the Australian She became angry recently when Prime
Mango Industry Association and Minister Scott Morrison announced a
Mareeba grower John Nucifora told farm labour plan, aimed at getting welfare
Tropic the harvest should be on par with recipients into seasonal picking jobs.
last year. “The farming sector is kind of seen as
“Last year was a record year and this the dumping ground for the long term
year it’s looking much like last year,” unemployed,” Ms Kruss told Tropic.
he said. “We had a huge flowering in “Realistically, it’s one of the biggest
winter and we have experienced some economic drivers of our country. These
fruit drop since then but that’s standard are high-end enterprises developing
when there’s a huge flower.” functional workforce plans.”
Following hot on the heels of the Prime Minister Morrison has since
mango harvest is the Tropical North’s announced new measures to address AVOCADO FORECAST
avocado season, which is also expected labour shortages faced in many North Queensland region
to equal last year’s production, which of Australia’s agricultural regions,
smashed records. Early forecasts allowing more backpackers into Last season:
suggest more than four million Australia and letting them stay longer.
trays will be supplied from north Agricultural lobby groups, though, have 3.6-million trays
Queensland, making it the largest been calling for a dedicated agricultural This season:
production region in the country. visa to address a drop in uptake of the 4.2-million trays
Chair of Avocados Australia Jim Working Holiday Visa (417) program,
Kochi, a grower from Tolga, said it is a which is blamed on the introduction of Value: $100 - $120 million
growing industry. the so-called ‘backpacker tax.’
“There are new trees coming through Source: Avocados Australia
and those trees that just started last
year, they move up another year in grand in their pocket,” she said. “We
production this year,” he said. “So you Realistically, it’s one of the never feel the pressure of not having
take an average price of $20 per tray, workers because we have backpacker
that’s an average - it does go higher biggest economic drivers central on our doorstep in Cairns if we
and lower - it adds up to between of our country. get desperate. “Plus, we don’t maximise
$80-million and $120-million.” the seasonal worker program.”
Combined, the region’s farmgate The seasonal worker program sees
value of avocados and mangoes are around 300 workers per year in the
worth around $200-million. Mr Leanne Kruss, though, says our region Tropical North. They mainly come from
Kochi says that figure doesn’t include has no such labour shortage woes. Vanuatu, Tonga and Fiji and work a six
indirect benefits. “Luckily, the mango season falls in the months on, six months off schedule. Ms
“If you take into account all the school holidays so it tends to be a big Kruss says while it is a bit of a process
workers involved in that, it’s a very big family affair, with nephews and nieces, for farms to become involved, studies
economy,” he said. “All those labour university students home for school have shown that it pays off, mainly
costs are being spent locally because holidays who are keen to earn a bit of because it eradicates the need for re-
backpackers don’t take anything home.” cash and go back with three or four training every harvest season.

19 • tropicnow.com.au