tiagagricultureforumreport.docx

1、tiagagricultureforumreportReport on the TIAG Industry Forum on skills, education and training for AgriculturePart A. Discussion based on the forum record 1. IntroductionThe TASTA Industry Advisory Group (TIAG) made the decision to convene an industry forum on agriculture based on State of Growth, th

2、e State strategy for primary industry.The forum was held on 16 June 2004.This paper is part of the process of turning the forum outputs into actions. It is a discussion paper for a post-forum group that will firm up and recommend and agree to, where possible, specific actions by a range of stakehold

3、ers. The context of the forum is illustrated by some of the statistics below: The Agriculture WorkforceThe following charts provide a snapshot of the agriculture workforce from the 2001 Census, with a comparison with the Tasmanian population (June 2003). 8,700 people employed in agriculture (vegetab

4、les 2,100; dairy farming 1,900; sheep 1,500; fruit 1,000; beef 800; sheep-beef 700) Another 6,300 employed in food and beverage manufacturing 52% of the workforce in Agriculture is over 44, only 10% is under 25 (the comparative figures for the whole workforce are 36% and 16%) 17% are at least 60 (wh

5、ole workforce 5.1%) 68% of farmers and farm managers have no post-school qualification (55% for the workforce)The State labour forceUnemployment is at 6.6%, down from 8.8% in 2001 and much higher levels earlier. What are the messages about workforce skills from these statistics? Not only will there

6、be a need for a larger workforce, there will be a need to replace people leaving. The whole workforce will need more skills and new skills. There are fewer people looking for work. There is strong competition for new entrants to the workforce and a limited local supply. Skills and labour issues need

7、 to be considered on a whole of industry basis. New or innovative approaches to workforce skills may be necessary to meet the objectives of State of Growth. 2. State of Growth and changes in Agriculture2.1 The State of GrowthThe State of Growth is an ambitious project to strategically expand Tasmani

8、as primary industries and ensure their long-term prosperity.It provides support for producers, processors, transporters, wholesalers and retailers the key people and organisations working together to grow our States primary produce and exports.The State of Growth will guide decision-making throughou

9、t all levels of the Tasmanian Government and its agencies. It will be used to prioritise policies and allocate resources in five priority areas: Market development and access; Water development and sustainable management; Investment, innovation and competitiveness; Building on our island advantage;

10、and Managing our natural resources.This better approach focuses on partnerships and alliances, concentrating Government resources on activities with identified potential.The State of Growth talks about: The capacity to significantly boost production, employment and profitability Skill development fo

11、r all links in the supply chain Increased employment Skills development - a major challenge Uncertain availability of casual labour Availability of labour and production skills An emphasis on business skills and product quality assurance as an aid to competitiveness.2.2 Changes in Agriculture2.2.1 B

12、usiness conditions and practicesAgriculture remains a mainstay of the State economy largely relying on the ability to sell profitably into national and international markets. This fact sets the context of many of the changes and change management issues. The forum discussed many. Some of the main on

13、es related to the overall pressures from increasing business complexity, technology, declining margins and competitive pressure resulting in a need for more and higher level business and management skills in Agriculture. This includes product research, market research, financial management, human re

14、source management and marketing. It includes the ability to respond to all the external pressures being placed on agricultural producers and the need to take advantage of opportunities such as vertical integration, diversification, both into new agricultural areas and into areas such as tourism and

15、the possibilities offered by cooperative approaches to a range of business practices.There are a range of known and possible financial issues such as taxation, exchange rates, cost increases both for agricultural inputs, (including water, land, labour) and for a range of risk management, safety and

16、environmental issues, lower margins, interest rates, leasing, E-commerce.Occupational health and safety came through in the forum as a major issue now and in the future.Agriculture has synergies with Tourism, the strongest growing area of the State economy. Agriculture is becoming more corporatised;

17、 there are larger business units and more complex business structures. It is a business rather than a lifestyle, although there is the sea change or hobby farmer component of the industry that needs to move with mainstream producers or risk being a problem.Generally people in agriculture need to do

18、much more, and do it more cleverly than before to maintain financial viability. 2.2.2 The operating environmentThe growth in external factors impacting on the average agricultural operator is huge. It includes everything from threats of bio-terrorism to a lack of understanding by the urban majority.

19、 There is a range of deregulation and regulation issues; there is the decline in rural communities and services, flowing through to impacts on the agricultural workforce. There is the increased environmental awareness and understanding of the links between agricultural practice, community health and

20、 economic sustainability. Agriculture is not immune from the generational changes that are impacting everywhere; things such as changes in attitudes to work or social issues and there are agricultural issues that have become general community topics such as GMOs and organics.While markets become les

21、s regulated, new issues around things like health, safety, competition policy or employment have introduced new sets of imposed controls and regulations. Combined with the perception that there is a disjoint between urban and rural communities is the pressure emanating from urban communities for gre

22、ater controls over activity, competition for land use, urban expansion and expectations that public resources such as water are recognized as having economic value. The movement of people and products and the push for reduced barriers to trade bring substantial threats through exotic pests and disea

23、ses as well as economic threats as more powerful nations have less pressure to comply with moves to free up access to protected markets.Despite the difficulties Tasmania still benefits from the relative isolation and the “clean, green” reputation that Tasmanian produce still has.Tasmania may also be

24、nefit from the inevitable restrictions on water use in other States where some agricultural activity such as dairying may not be able to pay market rates for water. 2.2.3 Farm productionThe product mix emerging from Tasmanian agriculture is also subject to great change as markets and opportunities c

25、hange. There is both increased diversity and specialization in new areas. There have been shifts from grazing to cropping, increased intensive cropping, many new crops and new ventures, decreases in some orchard fruit but growth in others such as stone fruits and walnuts. There is growth of niche ma

26、rket products and better access to distant markets. There has been some increase in organics but generally much greater sophistication in chemical, water and land use. There is an increasing trend to combine agriculture with tourism and retail business activity.Diversification also extends to planta

27、tion farming and fish farming.The wine industry is expanding rapidly and becoming more a big business activity and blueberries, olives, nuts and truffles are some of many new or expanding products. 2.2.4 TechnologyChanging technology is a pervasive force that is impacting across all agricultural act

28、ivity and bringing with it problems of understanding, management, opportunities and cost.Increased mechanization in agricultural production is not new but is continuing rapidly. The technology and science associated with farm systems, irrigation and pest or weed control is increasingly important. El

29、ectronic communication systems, E-commerce, computer and internet based business and farm management systems are all part of modern operations. These all change the economics of agricultural activity, change the role of labour and require new sets of skills.2.2.5 Customer expectationsCustomers in bo

30、th retail and wholesale markets are becoming more informed, stronger and are demanding more from producers. Quality, freshness, GMOs, organics, freedom from chemicals and pesticides as well as aesthetics is all issues. Food safety is a major factor for consumers and has resulted in extremely high st

31、andards imposed by large retail chains that use freshness and cleanliness as a marketing advantage. While this has produced major technical advances such as in packaging salad products, the sanitization of farm produce through the retail process is contributing to the distance between consumers and

32、producers and adding to the lack of understanding between agricultural activity and the general urban community.Production for export is also facing the impact of the discerning consumer and standards are also high and subject to the impact of exotic disease threats. In addition, overseas buyers of agricultural products will readily switch sources according to market conditions leaving local producers subject to the whims of foreign protection and dumping practices. Not only overseas buyers, but also local retail