The horticultural component of the irrigation industry is worth more than $6.5 billion (farm gate) per year in production and involves over 25,000 businesses and employs around 108,000 people. Horticulture represents approximately 40% of the value of production generated by irrigation and more than this when the urban activity associated with turf, nursery and garden industries is included.

Water is a fundamental requirement and is important to horticulture's future. It is for this reason that Horticulture Australia Limited has initiated it's own program to address the issues associated with responsible water use.

The Across Industry funded Horticulture Water Initiative has been set up by Horticulture Australia Limited to provide a coordinated approach and focal point for the horticulture sector's water issues.

The horticulture industry continues to rely on the provision of appropriate quality water to remain viable.  The goal of the Horticulture Water Initiative is:

‘Ensuring access to water for responsible and profitable use’

This goal assumes that the use is sustainable from an economic, environmental and social viewpoint and acknowledges the need to provide evidence supporting these claims.

The Initiative has five broad objectives that have been adopted to achieve this goal. They are:

1. Empower industry
2. Partnerships
3. Innovation and adoption
4. Informing policy
5. Positioning

'Managing Drought for Horticulture' Website

For more information on the drought and how horticulture industries can respond to this environmental issue please click here: Managing Drought for Horticulture