Horticulture is a driving force behind a projected increase in New Zealand’s primary industry export revenue.
In its Situation and Outlook Report for September, the country’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) forecast primary industry shipments to generate NZ$43.8bn in sales for the year ending June 2019. The performance would mark an increase of 2.5 per cent from 2018.
'Horticulture and dairy are the driving forces behind the increase forecast for 2019,” saidEmma Taylor, MPI’s director of agriculture, marine and plant policy.
”Horticulture exports are forecast to rise 13.1 per centto NZ$6.1bn for the year ending June 2019. Improved growing conditions for the most recent harvest has led to higher yields for kiwifruitand most other horticultural products.”
Overall, Taylor said the latest outlook provided plenty of positives for the country’s primary industries, which were being “sustainably repositioned” up the value chain.
“It's a promising outlook and builds on the strong growth seen in 2018, when export revenue increased 11.8 per cent.”
