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Monday, September 3, 2012

Learn to grow food, New Zealand

"Go into any supermarket in the country and you'll see fruit and vegetables aplenty, but the reality is the horticulture industry is struggling.

Despite a high demand for qualified personnel in horticulture, the number of graduates entering horticulture-based courses and jobs is not keeping up with the growth of the industry.

Massey University senior lecturer in Palmerston North Dr Jason Wargent spoke at the Vegetables New Zealand AGM at the recent HortNZ conference about the need to encourage graduates into all aspects of horticulture.

He said there was a “perceived gap in graduate supply for horticulture-based courses and we need to think about how we can fix that”.

Horticulture New Zealand senior business manager Sue Pickering said this shortage affected a lot of countries and had been an issue for some time.

However, she said the industry had become more complex and the negative perceptions around horticulture were affecting the growth of the industry."

This article by Jess Perenara, describes a serious issue faced by the horticulture industry, and one that has interested me for some time.  I've been involved in trying to interest students in horticulture for years in Southland, at pre-schools, primary schools and at a higher level still and my experience has been that there is little genuine interest, a state that I put down to the general lack of awareness of food production, other than livestock farming, and a lack of immediacy with regard the future, in terms of the global economy, the fossil fuel situation and climate change. All of these things wil increasingly make them selves known to young New Zealanders and they will respond accordingly, but I fervently wish they would/could think ahead and prepare. mostly, it's a lack of vision from adults that has created this situation; parents, school administrators, local body and central government representatives.
That said, there are some very good initiatives to be found, but most are to minor to be of much use yet. 

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I blame anti-farming campaigns. People that like to tarnish the good reputation of those that work hard in agriculture. Many have a vision that the best way to achieve their political gain is to trod on others.
The victims are kids who I hear are being bullied at schools. The outcome is kids who don't want careers in agriculture.

robertguyton said...

Ha! My bad - I've mucked up my post. It was supposed to be about the horticulture industry, as the link describes, not the agriculture industry, as I've written. I'll try to repair the tangle. here's a sample of the linked article:

"Go into any supermarket in the country and you'll see fruit and vegetables aplenty, but the reality is the horticulture industry is struggling.

Despite a high demand for qualified personnel in horticulture, the number of graduates entering horticulture-based courses and jobs is not keeping up with the growth of the industry.

Massey University senior lecturer in Palmerston North Dr Jason Wargent spoke at the Vegetables New Zealand AGM at the recent HortNZ conference about the need to encourage graduates into all aspects of horticulture.

He said there was a “perceived gap in graduate supply for horticulture-based courses and we need to think about how we can fix that”.

Horticulture New Zealand senior business manager Sue Pickering said this shortage affected a lot of countries and had been an issue for some time.

However, she said the industry had become more complex and the negative perceptions around horticulture were affecting the growth of the industry.

Pickering said one of the biggest issues was misunderstandings around opportunities for graduates in horticulture"

robertguyton said...

Apologies to you, Anonymous - your comment will seem a bit random, given that the original post as about agriculture!

Anonymous said...

Haha. It did seem a bit random... I was thinking ' Crickey tomorrow he will be citing John Key and promoting his views'.
In all seriousness, in my opinion people capability is New Zealand's biggest limitation moving forward. We need to keep encouraging the youth to reach the top of their potential in their chosen fields. Including GE scientists or push power engineers.
I would encourage you to keep citing Jacqueline. She is o for orsome.

robertguyton said...

"encouraging the youth to reach the top of their potential in their chosen fields. Including GE scientists or push power engineers."

What about aromatherapy practitioners, cage fighters and hemp growers, tarot card readers and Mongrel Mob wannabes, Anonymous?

Anonymous said...

If it is the top, and legal it must be admirable. I don't know about you but I respect cage fighters.
Mr E

robertguyton said...

Mongrel Mob membership is legal, isn't it?
Some chosen fields are not admirable, in my view. I wondered if you felt the same.
" We need to keep encouraging the youth to reach the top of their potential in their chosen fields."

Anonymous said...

Mongrel Mob membership may be legal, but what they have to do to gain membership is not. For example that appalling attack on a child in Turangi was a Mongrel mob wannabe.

Paranormal

robertguyton said...

Seemingly true, paranormal but it doesn't alter the fact that membership is legal. I'm sure you defend their right to be a gang as vigorously as you defend property rights and the right to choose this and that.