Farmers warn harvests could be lost if coronavirus lockdown means they lose workers to pick produce
4 years, 9 months ago

Farmers warn harvests could be lost if coronavirus lockdown means they lose workers to pick produce

Daily Mail  

Farmers have warned that fruit and vegetable harvests may be lost due to a shortage of staff due to a coronavirus lockdown. Australian growers rely on a steady influx of foreign workers to pick produce, but travel bans and self-isolating measures may cause them to lose crops through not having enough hands to collect them. 'There are people overseas making decisions right now, who would otherwise be here picking fruit or vegetables in three and six months time,' Growcom policy and advocacy manager Richard Shannon told The Guardian. The farming industry can't afford to send people away from work without losing huge amounts of crops and having a devastating impact on fresh food supplies The coronavirus outbreak has caused many countries to recommend people abandon any international travel plans to stop the spread of the disease. The farming industry can't afford to send people away from work without losing huge amounts of crops and having a devastating impact on fresh food supplies.

Australia Farmers Lose Work  warn  food  vegetables  staff  australia  workers  having  lose  work  harvests  including  lockdown  produce  coronavirus  farmers  pick  means  fruit  lost  crops

History of this topic

Tomato virus outbreak leads to job losses and supply chain disruptions
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Tomato virus outbreak leads to job losses and supply chain disruptions

ABC  

Australia's tomato supply chain is bracing for disruption and potential price hikes, while hundreds of jobs have already been lost, following the discovery of an exotic plant virus that has plunged three SA growers into lockdown. Mr Secomb said so far the test results were "looking promising", with most returning negative results for the virus, giving increased confidence the disease …

Turned away at restaurants, borders and even your workplace
3 years, 11 months ago

Turned away at restaurants, borders and even your workplace

Daily Mail  

Australians could be banned from restaurants, shops and offices if they refuse to get a Covid-19 vaccine. Using public health orders, states and territories have the power to mandate vaccinations for certain activities and professions such as aged care workers who can be required to get an up-to-date flu jab. Last month NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian suggested she may allow …

Pacific Island workers bound for Victoria to complete coronavirus quarantine in Tasmania under state deal
3 years, 11 months ago

Pacific Island workers bound for Victoria to complete coronavirus quarantine in Tasmania under state deal

ABC  

Seasonal workers from the Pacific Islands will be allowed into Victoria under special quarantine arrangements after a deal was struck between the state and Tasmania. Key points: Pacific Island workers will quarantine in Tasmania before travelling to Victorian farms In return Victoria will take Tasmania's 330-person commitment for returned travellers The announcement has prompted concerns for worker welfare due to …

Coronavirus restrictions see Queensland farmers vying to keep staff as worker shortages bite
4 years, 2 months ago

Coronavirus restrictions see Queensland farmers vying to keep staff as worker shortages bite

ABC  

Farmers are scrambling to ensure critical workers are kept employed, as concerns about future food shortages begin to grip the agricultural sector. Key points: There's an estimated 26,000 worker shortfall as Queensland's main fruit and vegetable season wraps up Farmers say competition for staff is now reaching levels never seen before in rural areas Grower Josh Pirrone says they are …

Coronavirus restrictions on food processing in Victoria won't lead to shortages, says Premier Daniel Andrews
4 years, 5 months ago

Coronavirus restrictions on food processing in Victoria won't lead to shortages, says Premier Daniel Andrews

ABC  

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is adamant his severe restrictions on staffing levels at food processing and distribution centres will not lead to national food shortages. Key points: Victoria's red-meat plants will have their staff numbers cut to 66 per cent from Sunday Victoria's red-meat plants will have their staff numbers cut to 66 per cent from Sunday Chicken processing will …

Federal Government set to allow fruit pickers from Vanuatu into Australia despite coronavirus border closure
4 years, 5 months ago

Federal Government set to allow fruit pickers from Vanuatu into Australia despite coronavirus border closure

ABC  

The Federal Government is set to permit foreign workers to fly into Australia to help farmers harvest crops despite an inbound travel ban and surging unemployment. Key points: The Federal Government is set to allow up to 200 fruit pickers into the NT The Federal Government is set to allow up to 200 fruit pickers into the NT The workers …

Australian food products now require proof of virus-free status before entering China
4 years, 6 months ago

Australian food products now require proof of virus-free status before entering China

ABC  

Australian producers sending food and edible agricultural products to China will now be required to sign a declaration to prove the items are free from COVID-19, following an outbreak at a Beijing market. Key points: Australian producers are now required to sign a declaration to prove items are free from COVID-19, following an outbreak at a Beijing market Agriculture Minister …

Coronavirus package | Will migrant workers benefit from the Centre’s measures?
4 years, 7 months ago

Coronavirus package | Will migrant workers benefit from the Centre’s measures?

The Hindu  

The story so far: In her second tranche of COVID-19 relief package announcements, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the steps taken by the government for migrants and farmers during the national lockdown, including free ration for stranded workers. Acknowledging the significance of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme during the pandemic, she said it had helped provide jobs …

COVID-19 fears see farmers' markets in NSW close despite 'essential service' status
4 years, 8 months ago

COVID-19 fears see farmers' markets in NSW close despite 'essential service' status

ABC  

A number of farmers' markets in New South Wales have shut down despite the Federal Government deeming them an "essential service". Key points: Some farmers' markets in NSW have been shut down voluntarily, while others have been ordered to close by local government Some producers believe pre-ordering would eliminate most of the coronavirus risk, and that the closures are "funnelling" …

Farmers innovate to protect workers' health and food security during coronavirus crisis
4 years, 8 months ago

Farmers innovate to protect workers' health and food security during coronavirus crisis

ABC  

Queensland farmers are innovating to protect their workers' health and food security amid the coronavirus crisis, initiating their own health plans to ensure the safety of their communities and crops. Coordination officers announced across state Queensland Agriculture Minister Mark Furner praised producers for taking the step of implementing their own plans to protect themselves and businesses against COVID-19. " Community …

Coronavirus lockdown | Police won’t harm farmers, govt. tells Supreme Court
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus lockdown | Police won’t harm farmers, govt. tells Supreme Court

The Hindu  

The Supreme Court on Wednesday recorded in its order the government’s undertaking that farmers and agricultural workers would not be harassed by the police and the authorities during the lockdown. A Bench, led by Justice N.V. Ramana, was hearing a petition filed by activist Swami Agnivesh, represented by senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, that the authorities were tormenting farm workers and …

Virus closes some meat plants, raising fears of shortages
4 years, 8 months ago

Virus closes some meat plants, raising fears of shortages

Associated Press  

— Some massive meat processing plants have closed at least temporarily because their workers were sickened by the new coronavirus, raising concerns that there could soon be shortages of beef, pork and poultry in supermarkets. Tyson, Cargill and other major meat processing companies say they are adopting several measures: taking the temperature of everyone entering plants, adding clear plastic shields …

Coronavirus lockdown | Flight of migrant labour a deep concern for post lockdown revival: Nitin Gadkari
4 years, 8 months ago

Coronavirus lockdown | Flight of migrant labour a deep concern for post lockdown revival: Nitin Gadkari

The Hindu  

Union Minister for Micro, Medium and Smallscale Enterprises Nitin Gadkari said the flight of migrant labour from cities was a serious issue in any post lockdown plan for economic revival but added that it would be up to the State governments to evolve guidelines to allow their return. Speaking to The Hindu in a videoconference from his Nagpur residence, Mr. …

Farmers are among the heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic
4 years, 9 months ago

Farmers are among the heroes of the COVID-19 pandemic

The Hindu  

Vegetables are the new gold. No matter what happens to the world, it has to go on,” says R Jaganathan, founder of Nallakeerai, which specialises in local, seasonal greens and networks with organic farmers across India. “There is an increase in demand for supplies and we are all sending a silent thank you to our farmers when we come home …

Farmers enjoy fivefold rise in food sales as coronavirus drives more people to avoid supermarkets
4 years, 9 months ago

Farmers enjoy fivefold rise in food sales as coronavirus drives more people to avoid supermarkets

ABC  

After extended periods of bushfires and drought, coronavirus was looking like yet another blow to Australia's farmers. "We've seen an 85 to 100 per cent increase in orders this month alone," Mrs Richardson said. "Most people came through the front door and bought their fresh fruit and vegetables and now we're doing a box service," Mr Rehbein said. Stay up-to-date …

Coronavirus Outbreak: Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar warns of stricter measures if lockdown defied
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus Outbreak: Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar warns of stricter measures if lockdown defied

Firstpost  

Ajit Pawar’s warning came amid reports of blatant violation of the lockdown norms by people from many cities Mumbai: People should learn lessons from COVID-19 victims in the US, Italy and Spain and not venture out of their homes, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said on Wednesday as he warned of taking stricter measures if citizens continue to roam …

World risks food crisis in wake of coronavirus, officials warn
4 years, 9 months ago

World risks food crisis in wake of coronavirus, officials warn

Al Jazeera  

Governments must ensure free trade especially to avoid further slowdowns in food-supply chains, WTO, WHO, UN say. As governments around the world are trying to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus by putting their populations in lockdown, international trade and food supply chains suffered a severe slowdown. “Uncertainty about food availability can spark a wave of export restrictions, creating …

'Feed the Nation': Britain urged to take up work in the fields as coronavirus threatens fruit and veg supplies
4 years, 9 months ago

'Feed the Nation': Britain urged to take up work in the fields as coronavirus threatens fruit and veg supplies

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. "Most places are OK for …

Coronavirus: Food rationing must be introduced immediately, experts warn government
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus: Food rationing must be introduced immediately, experts warn government

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy …

'Essential' farmers' markets free of coronavirus crowd bans, Health Department confirms
4 years, 9 months ago

'Essential' farmers' markets free of coronavirus crowd bans, Health Department confirms

ABC  

Farmers' markets around Australia have official clearance to go ahead this weekend - and are preparing for a potential onslaught after unprecedented panic buying and hoarding at supermarkets. Key points: Farmers' markets have been ruled "essential" by the Federal Government Stallholders have been given food-handling instructions Increased efforts will be made to maximise public safety On Wednesday, Prime Minister Scott …

Australia coronavirus outbreak: PM warns of ‘once-in-100 year’ crisis
4 years, 9 months ago

Australia coronavirus outbreak: PM warns of ‘once-in-100 year’ crisis

CNN  

Brisbane, Australia CNN — Australian Prime Minister has warned people to “stop hoarding,” as shoppers across the country empty supermarket shelves amid rising alarm over the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, which has infected almost 180,000 people worldwide. Some fear the rapid rise in coronavirus cases suggest that Australia’s normally robust health system could be overwhelmed, like Italy’s where …

Coronavirus is causing panic buying, but what does that mean for Australia's food security?
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus is causing panic buying, but what does that mean for Australia's food security?

ABC  

Empty supermarket shelves have become a common sight in the past few weeks, since coronavirus sparked widespread panic buying. Key points: Coronavirus has led to temporary shortages of some products in supermarkets But retail and agricultural experts say Australia has plenty of food to go around Rationing was introduced during World War II, but is extremely unlikely to be repeated …

Coronavirus pandemic driving strong demand for local fruit and vegetables
4 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus pandemic driving strong demand for local fruit and vegetables

ABC  

As humanity's most pressing health crisis plays out across the globe, Australian consumers appear to be rushing to boost their immunity with locally grown vegetables. Key points: Demand for locally produced fruit and vegetables is strong amid coronavirus fears Some WA producers say it is the best year they have had in a decade On the flip side, the global …

Millions of apples left to rot in UK as Brexit uncertainty worsens EU fruit picker shortage
5 years, 2 months ago

Millions of apples left to rot in UK as Brexit uncertainty worsens EU fruit picker shortage

The Independent  

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy …

Discover Related