Workforce pool as mango season opens
The Territory Government is working to bolster its international workforce pool to maximise on agricultural opportunities, as Mango season opens for 2022.
The season the Northern Territory is expected to harvest 2.7 million trays of mangos, 300,000 trays more than last year, making for a bumper crop and adding $128 million to the Territory Economy.
This year’s late and cooler than usual Top End dry season stimulated a higher number of flowers on mango trees which increased the potential yield of the mango crop.
This year’s crop represents just over half of Australia’s total mango harvest, with a portion of the crop picked to be exported to the Asian and American markets.
Further boosting the impact of mangos onto the Territory Economy, around 2,000 pickers are employed by mango farmers during the harvesting season.
The Territory Government and NT Farmers have been active in attracting domestic and international workers to contribute to the industry, including through the a promotional video campaign, promoting careers in the farming sector to school and university students, and developing innovative programs to provide employment opportunities to refugees and long term unemployed.
A delegation from the Territory Government visited Timor-Leste in September in an effort to attract workers for hospitality, construction, agriculture and other Territory industries.
One of the priorities will be discussing the opportunity to partner with Timor-Leste to bolster Australia’s workforce, including fruit pickers.
The Territory Labor Government is talking to the Australian Government about a streamlined Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) process to expedite migration workers coming to the Territory for work opportunities.
NT Farmers CEO Paul Burke said it was the perfect opportunity to try a career in the agriculture.
“The 2022 harvest will deliver a bumper crop of delicious mangoes to customers around Australia and internationally. The Territory is the first in Australia to start producing mangos and they are praised for their sweet taste and fine texture,” he said.
“Farmers are delighted with this year’s growing conditions and flowering and the mango industry is calling for workers to come forward and begin what could be the start of a career in the agriculture industry. There are hundreds of jobs available for immediate start on the Harvest Trail website.
“There are a huge amount of opportunities for workers in the sector for both Australians and neighbours living in our immediate region.”