The 48th National Fieldays at Mystery Creek kicked-off with a Government announcement of a programme aimed at filling at least 50,000 more jobs in the primary sector.
The programme, Growing Our Future " Primary Industry Champions, was launched by Prime Minister John Key and senior ministers on Tuesday night, with the help of rugby hero Richie McCaw, shearing great Sir David Fagan, and rowers Rob and Sonia Waddell.
The programme promotes the range of careers in farming, horticulture and other primary industries, with Minister of Primary Industries Nathan Guy telling his audience big challenges are to be met in attracting enough young people into the sector.
"By 2025 the sector will need 50,000 more people, and around half of them will require a level 4 NCEA qualification or higher."
Fieldays organisers had little trouble filling jobs for the big event that started yesterday and ends on Saturday. It has a hard-core of 160 volunteers, growing to more than 300 for the event
