A SUCCESSFUL workshop was recently held at the Gatton Shire Hall targeting the Vietnamese vegetable producers that farm in the Lockyer Valley around Gatton and Lowood.
Just under 50 people attended the event that was held in the Gatton Shire Hall to allow for social distance measures to be addressed.
Participants included 35 growers of Vietnamese background with varying levels of English literacy and a number of representatives from various parts of the vegetable supply chain.
The event incorporated presentations by the Rural Economies Centre of Excellence on vegetable cold chain monitoring, NSW DPI which was presented via zoom in Vietnamese on managing thrips resistance, Lockyer Valley Regional Council providing details around Chem-Cert training in 2021 and the Qld Department of Agriculture and Fisheries presenting on integrated pest management to address pesticide resistance and learnings from the study tour to the United Arab Emirates with a particular focus of simple measures of growing vegetables in protected cropping systems in very dry and hot environments.
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Lockyer Valley Growers industry development officer, Zara Hall, said the group was surprised by the large turn out and particularly the high level of Vietnamese women that are obviously very involved in their businesses.
Vegetable growers in Southern Queensland have had a difficult few years addressing extreme heat and drought impacts including the Vietnamese growers in the Lockyer Valley.
"It was fantastic that the Fassifern Salvation Army negotiated additional funding specifically targeted at attendees of the workshop and that a number of growers were able to signed up to participate in the Australian Government's Drought Community Support financial hardship program," Ms Hall said.
The event was implemented as part of the Hort Innovation funded VegNET program and a barbecue and refreshments were provided by the Fassifern Salvation Army.
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