What did you do for National Agriculture Day this year?

The DPIR National Citrus Canker Eradication Program and Northern Territory Farmers Association teamed up to celebrate and encourage community support for our farmers on 21 November.

NT Farmers Workforce Planning Coordinator, Aisla Connolly, and DPIR Community Engagement Officer, Jo Scott, spent the day at Girraween Primary School teaching students about biosecurity threats to our agricultural and horticultural industries. The school has a wonderful school farm and with most students coming from rural properties, they showed great interest in the topic and asked many well-considered questions.

Students learned about biosecurity activities that are happening all the time to protect people, animals and plants from pests and diseases. They discussed citrus canker disease and how each of us can help eradicate this disease from the NT. Students also enjoyed a game of fruit bingo – a fun way to build knowledge of which fruits are citrus.

Girraween Primary School plan to continue student learning in biosecurity with some independent activities in their school garden and are interested in a biosecurity-themed inquiry learning project next year.

The visit also marked an exciting milestone for community engagement, with delivery of biosecurity education to over 1,000 school students under the National Citrus Canker Eradication Program.