(Centre) NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, with new Department of Primary Industries’ cotton industry personnel (from left) Dr Guna Nachimuthu, Annabelle McPherson and Dr Sudheesh Manalil at AgQuip in Gunnedah.
Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson, and Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson announced three new personnel supporting the NSW cotton industry.
Ms Hodgkinson made the announcement at Australia’s largest agricultural industry field day event AgQuip, in Gunnedah.
“The majority of Australia’s cotton is grown in NSW, and in 2010-11 export revenue from this vital industry totalled more than $1.1 billion,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“The government is committed to supporting this industry, which is why a weeds researcher and two new soil science personnel have been appointed in the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) to work on important projects. This industry underpins the viability of many communities, particularly in the North West.
“To ensure it remains profitable and sustainable, the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government and industry both recognise the need for cutting edge research and development.
“These new positions add to the ongoing R&D commitment of the NSW Government, with more than 1000 active projects worth about $100 million managed by the DPI.”
The new officers are:
- Dr Sudheesh Manalil, a weeds research scientist at Narrabri, who is looking at the rapidly escalating issue of herbicide-resistant weeds in cotton farming systems;
- Dr Guna Nachimuthu, a research scientist (soils) based at Narrabri, who is investigating the effect of selected crop and soil management practices on carbon sequestration in irrigated cotton farming systems; and
- Ms Annabelle McPherson, a technical officer (soils) based at Tamworth, who is working on a project to determine nitrogen strategies to reduce nitrous oxide emissions for different irrigated cotton systems.
Member for Tamworth, Kevin Anderson, welcomed the new positions.
Published in The Indian Sun, Sydney
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