Western Australian tree farmers stories - Andrew and Suzi Sprigg of Wialki
Andrew and Suzi Sprigg of Wialki are planting their agriculturally unproductive soils to tree crops. They are passionate about the role tree crops can have in making their farm and their community more sustainable. In Western Australia lies an area twice the size of Tasmania, called the Avon Wheatbelt. Of the 12 million hectares of land, approximately 8 million have been cleared. This extensive clearing has lead to environmental problems including wind and water erosion, salinity, and loss of habitat. Agriculture is the predominant industry for this region but with narrowing margins and a changing climate, many who live in the region are looking for other options to be able to keep farming while still looking after the environment. Industry scale planting of tree crops not only addresses these environmental issues but will provide sufficient resources for new industries. This will result in income diversification for farmers and increase local job opportunities. This video is of 5 Avon farming families telling their stories — about how they are trying to heal the land while developing new and sustainable production systems for their future — their children’s future and the future of their communities. We would like to thank Wheatbelt NRM for their vision for the health and sustainability of the Avon Region and for their sponsorship of this production. Credits: Executive Producer Monica Durcan AVONGRO Wheatbelt Tree Cropping Incorporated www.avongro.com.au Produced by In …
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