NSW Farmers has gone in to bat for drought-stricken Western region communities in the wake of the state government's promise to boost the Farm Innovation Fund by $350 million to $1 billion if it wins the March 23 election.
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President James Jackson has called the multi-million-dollar commitment "good news" but asked for more.
He is lobbying for a further commitment to funding of community-led stimulus projects in drought-affected areas.
“The future of farmers and the future of regional communities cannot be separated and it would be good to see extra support for communities, particularly in Western NSW," the president said.
The government reports that the Farm Innovation Fund has helped more than 1700 farmers across the state drought-proof their properties through provision of low-interest loans covering capital works such as cattle yards, solar panel systems, silos and bore water systems.
The future of farmers and the future of regional communities cannot be separated and it would be good to see extra support for communities, particularly in Western NSW.
- NSW Farmers president James Jackson
It is promising to increase the value of the low-interest loans available from the fund from $250,000 to $1 million for works lasting "generations".
Mr Jackson said extra funding for concessional loans would be applauded by many farmers.
“Right now however, there are also primary producers who will not be in a position to take on additional debt to build for the future,” he said.
NSW Farmers has welcomed the government's advice of an immediate increase in the amount of money farmers can claim on drought subsidies from $30,000 to $40,000.
It has also highlighted immediate funding of $5 million for emergency water supplies to ensure towns have access to safe and reliable water and $2 million to connect people to support services through the Rural Resilience Program.
