Primary ITO helps keep traditional Kiwi farming know-how on the farm
New Zealand farmers are an ageing demographic and the traditional succession model – of the children inheriting the farm – is breaking down, raising questions around how the generational and experience based knowledge of Kiwi farmers will be passed down. A study by agribusiness scientists, John Fairweather and Stephanie Mulet-Marques, using Statistics New Zealand data shows that farmers (owner operators) are getting older, and fewer farm children are interested in continuing on the family farm. There also appears to be an increase in the corporatisation of local farms, although no studies have been done, which also potentially puts traditional farming knowledge that is learned through the experience of generations, at risk. However, initiatives like the 450 strong Primary ITO volunteer mentor network – as well as training advisers who travel from farm to farm, and retired farmers who remain involved with the likes of Federated Farmers – are helping to make sure that valuable Kiwi farming know-how is preserved, even though farm children are going on to other professions. Primary ITO regional manager in the Manawatu, Cathy Puanaki, says that steps are already in place to ensure ‘succession knowledge and experience’ is handed down, even to the level of a farmer’s learned experience of factors like the micro-climate and soils relevant to his particular farm. “We have training advisers who are active farmers at the moment, whose children aren’t interested in going into farming, so we know it’s happening. I think technology is changing the way things are done, and children in particular are seeing different opportunities that they want to explore. The younger generation are choosing not to carry on the traditional family farm. They are keen to go and attain new qualifications, techniques and technologies and bring them back to the family farm.” Cathy believes though that the […]