Overview of horticultural industry

• The Territory horticulture industry includes fruit, nurseries and vegetables.
• The value of horticulture in the Northern Territory was estimated at $80 million in 2005-2006.
• The majority of the horticultural products from the Territory are destined for interstate markets.
• The main fruits produced include melons, mangoes, table grapes and bananas. Over the past 10 years the mango industry has grown from 150,000 trees to more than 750,000 trees, and the industry itself has continued to grow and develop its skills and capabilities.
• Mangoes are grown primarily in the Darwin and Katherine regions.
• Over 2.2 million trays of mangoes were harvested in NT in 2007.
• Kensington Pride is the most common variety of mangoes grown in the Northern Territory.
• Mid and later mango varieties are well represented in the Mareeba area.
• Production of melons (including rockmelons and other varieties) has risen in the past few years.
• The main areas for new plantings of melons are in the Darwin and Katherine areas.
• Due to its favourable climate, the Northern Territory has the ability to provide off-seaosn melons to other areas of Australia.

Northern Territory Natural Resource Management (NRM) Regions
Across Australia, 56 NRM regions have been identified. Each state has been broken into a number of regions, except the Northern Territory where there is just one region.

The Natural Resources Management Board (NT) has been established to co-ordinate natural resource management in the Northern Territory. Contact details for the NRM Board are:

Natural Resource Management Board (NT) Inc.
Level 3
25 Chung Wah Terrace
PALMERSTON - NT - 0830

Phone: 08 8999 4501
Fax: 08 8999 4445
Email: info@nrmbnt.org.au
Website: www.nrmbnt.org.au

Key contacts
There are a number of other community groups and organisations in South Australia that aim to improve natural resource management at the farm, catchment and regional level.

There are also a number of Australian Government facilitators who work at a state level, and have a detailed understanding of NRM policy and programs. The Australian Government facilitators foster activities that fall within the Bushcare, Landcare, Coastcare and Rivercare themes.

Incentives
A range of incentives are available to primary producers to assist with natural resource management projects such as on-ground works (fencing, revegetation) and implementation of Environmental Management Systems (EMS).

Information on incentives can also be found at the following websites:

• Australian Government grants
• DAFF funding programs
• NRM Toolbar
• Community Water Grants
• NRM Funding
• GrantsLINK