DEPUTY Premier and Member for Dubbo Troy Grant stands by the support the NSW government is providing to drought-affected communities.
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"I have been on the ground in the north-west and have seen the very dry conditions," Mr Grant said.
"The situation is heartbreaking but the government can't make it rain.
"Investment in water infrastructure is giving farmers as much access to ground water as possible in dry times and will help to future proof properties once the region comes out of drought.
"The NSW government has also put money aside to bring Bureau of Meteorology technology closer to our area to help with more accurate weather reading."
Mr Grant referred the Daily Liberal to the Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair for a more accurate picture of drought assistance.
The minister's office said drought support measures included an emergency water infrastructure rebate, farm household allowance, farm management deposits, taxation measures, a national approach to farm business management and a co-ordinated approach to social support services.
The NSW government was also supporting the new national drought program with a $13 million funding package, including funding to continue the rural support worker program, country town emergency water cartage, a farm innovation fund and the rural financial counselling service.
At the end of October Minister Blair and Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries were at Myall Station near Collarenebri when more than 14 truck loads of donated fodder were distributed to drought-affected farmers from north-west NSW.
The fodder drop of 540 donated bales of hay was organised by Rural Aid's not-for-profit Buy A Bale program, with the full cost of transport covered by the NSW government under its transport assistance for donated fodder program.
The $300 million NSW Drought Strategy included $5 million over the next five years for transport assistance for animal welfare and donated fodder from within NSW.
Mr Blair said donated fodder provided welcome relief for farmers at Lightning Ridge, Walgett, Collarenebri and Goodooga, who had been doing it tough with limited rain in recent years resulting in the heartbreaking loss of crops and in some cases almost total destocking.
"While we now have the NSW Drought Strategy in place, and are administering two concessional loans measures on behalf of the Commonwealth, we are constantly assessing whether adjustments need to be made to ensure they support our farmers," Mr Blair said.
"I am in constant communication with the commonwealth minister for agriculture about federal assistance measures in NSW."
