National offers farmers another $13m a year to adopt more environmentally friendly methods

Name: 'We are campaigning hard on a positive direction' Bill English
Uploaded: 2017-09-09T11:30:32+12:00
Description: Bill English has officially opened the DB Schenker warehouse in South Auckland on Friday. At a media conference Mr English has told reporters that "a number of tools we are now using to deal with social and environmental issues are now world leading". NZN

By Isaac Davison

Senior Reporter, Health·NZ Herald·

11 Sep, 2017 01:46 AMQuick Read

Bill English has officially opened the DB Schenker warehouse in South Auckland on Friday. At a media conference Mr English has told reporters that "a number of tools we are now using to deal with social and environmental issues are now world leading". NZN

National will give farmers another $13 million a year to adopt more environmentally friendly methods.

Leader Bill English said a fund for sustainability farming, now called the Future of Farming Fund, would get $20m a year if National was in government - up from $7m a year.

It would help farmers and food growers to develop technology such as soil sensors and plants with higher yields.

PM Bill English said a fund for sustainability farming, now called the Future of Farming Fund, would get $20m a year if National was in government - up from the current $7m a year. Photo / Nick Reed

Speaking at a horticulture factory near Levin, English said National's co-operative approach was a contrast to Labour's policies, in particular its water tax.

"We want to work with you, they want to punish you," he said.

National also set a target of growing the agritech sector to $6 billion by 2025.