The Farm Business Resilience and Regional Drought Resilience Planning programs aim to provide farmers and regional communities with the skills and support needed to build their resilience to future droughts.
Both programs are being run across Australia - delivered through each state and territory. States and territories will work with industry to tailor the programs to the needs of their regions.
Initially, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia are offering the programs with other states and territories to be announced shortly.
Announcing the programs for Victoria, Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud and Victorian Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas said the Future Drought Fund programs will support farmers and regions to build resilience to future droughts.
"The $9.85 million Regional Drought Resilience Planning program supports partnerships of regional organisations, councils, communities and farmers to develop regional drought resilience plans," Minister Littleproud said.
"The plans will identify how to manage through droughts, finding ways to build resilience across agricultural sectors and allied industries."
Planning will be community-led and owned. It will bring regional knowledge and perspectives, along with the best available evidence and data.
"Australian farmers manage uncertainty daily and the business of farming is becoming more challenging," Minister Littleproud said.
"The $16 million Farm Business Resilience program will give farmers access to subsidised learning and development opportunities to meet these challenges."
Victoria will benefit from $700,000 in Future Drought Fund funding for Farm Business Resilience and $1.9 million for Regional Drought Resilience Planning.
The Australian Government's recent announcement noted an additional $91 million for both programs over three years beyond the foundational year.
For more details visit the Australian Government Future Drought Fund web page: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/drought/future-drought-fund
