Programme aims to boost cashmere and mohair production
New South Wales-based research company AgriFutures Australia has launched an industry development programme to boost mohair and cashmere fibre production in Australia and New Zealand. It has called the progrmme Future Fibre Farming.
It said goat fibre was poised to make a bigger impact on Australia’s agricultural economy, pointing out that Australian production of cashmere and mohair fibres current account for 5.5% of global supply.
Future Fibre Farming will invest in research extension to provide new information to mohair and cashmere producers to scale their existing production and encourage new producers to come into the industry.
There will be 14 dedicated members of the new Future Fibre Farming team, nine based in New Zealand and five in Australia. They will be led by Dr Mark Ferguson.
“The industry is currently made up of lots of small, hobbyist-type set-ups with only a few larger mainstream farmers,” Dr Ferguson said on launching the programme. “Our vision is to shift this landscape and make the goat fibre industry a viable alternative to sheep and cattle.”
To achieve this, the project is planning to conduct an industry survey to gather baseline information, establish an online portal for knowledge sharing, and launch a podcast to support industry growth.
AgriFutures Australia has said the climate in parts of Australia and New Zealand is suitable for producing cashmere, and that the mohair industry is “already in a robust position, boasting a clean, green, and sustainable image, coupled with proven profitability opportunities when compared with wool”.
“The current global supply of goat fibre is not enough to meet growing demand,” Dr Ferguson said.
Image: AgriFutures Australia
