Representatives from our local agriculture industry have spent the last five months passing on knowledge to a team of dedicated foreign trainees as part of a Japanese Agricultural Exchange Program.
Coordinated by Bowen Gumlu Growers Association (BGGA), the initiative saw Japanese trainees spend time with a range of local growers, producers and associated agribusinesses, including Marto’s Mangoes, Eden Lassie Agave Farm and Koorelah Farms.
The exchange program culminated in a visit from the Japanese Consul- General, Masuo Ono, who took a tour of the farms, met the trainees and local growers then spent some time with Mayor Julie Hall and local government representatives.
BGGA Chief Executive Officer, Ry Collins, said the association had been working closely with the Japanese Consulate and exchanging information and updates about the program since the trainees arrived in Australia in April.
“The Japanese Consulate’s visit provided a great opportunity for Mr Ono to meet the growers and trainees and see first-hand where they have been living and working,” he said.
Mr Collins said the Japanese Agricultural Exchange Program was an important international education, trade and regional promotion initiative helping to create conversations about new agricultural export and trade opportunities for local growers with Japan.
“BGGA addressed the need to remove existing regulatory and market access barriers that currently restrict some of our produce from entering this important Asian market,” he said.
“Our discussion also highlighted the wealth of trade opportunities in North Queensland through other industries including aquaculture, manufacturing, mining and tourism.”
Our region is the largest producer of winter vegetable crops in Australia generating farm gate production worth approximately $650 million per annum.
Key commodities produced include tomato, capsicum, mangoes, cucurbits, beans and corn.
Local growers employ approximately 1,500 workers throughout the year with an additional 2,000 during the harvest season which means that one in every five workers living in the region are supported by this sector.
Local produce feeds the nation and is exported to more than a dozen countries.
Mr Collins said that the wealth of knowledge embodied in this vast agriculture sector was imparted on the trainees who will now take their new experiences back to Japan.
“BGGA is pleased with the success of the program to date and thanks the growers who have been contributing to the trainees’ agricultural knowledge,” he said.
“BGGA also acknowledges the trainees’ dedication to their learning and farm work as well as the support from the Queensland Government for their contribution to the program.”
(left to right): Sawaka Kasuga (trainee), Chris Monsour (Prospect Agriculture and Eden Lassie Agave Farm owner) and Mizuki Oki (trainee) at Eden Lassie Agave Farm
Robert Lee (Koorelah Farms) with Consul-General, Masuo Ono, at Koorelah Farms
3:Japanese trainees with Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor, Julie Hall, Consul-General Masuo Ono, and Consul, Ms Harumi Narita, at a networking event at Grand View Hotel on 25 October. Photos supplied
