There was substantial agricultural development in the Darwin area without sustained government investment

Between 2002-03 and 2014-15 turnover in the agricultural sector increased by over $100 million from $129 million to $231 million (Figure 1). This growth created over 200 new jobs, and supported a total of nearly 600 full-time-equivalent (FTE) roles by 2014-15 (BLADE). During this growth period the number of operating businesses declined (BLADE), suggesting some consolidation to achieve economies of scale but more likely the growth of a small number of businesses while a larger number left the industry or ceased to operate.

Figure 1 Change in turnover, Full Time Equivalents (FTE) and number of businesses in the Darwin study area between 2002-03 and 2014-15 (BLADE)

While all agricultural industries showed turnover growth during the study period, a range of sectors were making a substantial contribution to agriculture by 2014-15 (Figure 2). In 2002-03 fishing, hunting and trapping, and aquaculture generated $34 million which was 27% of all agriculture turnover and around double the turnover from both cattle farming and all other pastoral farming. By 2014-15, the market share from fishing, hunting and trapping, and aquaculture had dropped to 19% and there was just a $7 million difference between all other pastoral farming, cattle farming, and fishing, hunting and trapping, and aquaculture (BLADE).

Figure 2 Change in turnover,  Full Time Equivalents (FTE) and number of businesses in the Darwin study area between 2002-03 and 2014-15 (BLADE)

The bulk of the growth in Horticulture was driven by the category of “Mushroom and Vegetable Growing” (BLADE), which is likely to be largely melons and Asian vegetables (ABS 2017b), in which turnover increased from around $15 million to over $30 million annually (Figure 3) (BLADE).

Figure 3 Change in turnover of different horticulture industry classifications in the Darwin study area between 2002-03 and 2014-15 (BLADE)