Regional Review
Issue No. 21 - February/March 2005
Plan to save farmers from despair
In line with its major policy initiative A Triple Bottom Line for the Bush, the South Australian Farmers’ Federation (SAFF) has announced that it will be driving a major campaign to save farmers who have suffered from a combination of drought, low commodity prices and unseasonable rains from financial ruin.
“Farmers are generally very proud and stoic in tough times – after all, unpredictability of seasons comes with what we do – but I have spoken to many farmers over recent months who just don’ t think they can get through another year, having been hit so hard from all directions,” SAFF President John Lush says.
He says the SAFF plan is not a “hand-out mentality” and that short-term assistance may be the difference between farmers leaving the land for good or continuing to make a go of things in better times.
“The triple bottom line approach gives just as much weight to the social and environmental aspects of a community, and these are inextricably linked to economic outcomes. We cannot afford to ignore this and just let good farmers – who have been hit with some terrible luck – fall by the wayside,” John says.
SAFF is organising a series of regional meetings to give farmers a forum to voice their concerns and discuss the challenges that confront them and what services and help they need to ride out the difficult times.
John says among the ideas that were being mooted was a short-term loan scheme, similar to the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) for tertiary students, which could be paid back over a period of years once a farmer became established and had built up some capital and equity in their business.
A range of church and other aid agencies would also be approached to work with the Federation on this issue.
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