The Government's latest report into regional growth opportunities has identified areas where it thinks the primary industries could grow in the Manawatu and Whanganui regions.
Dairy farm at Apiti, Manawatu. Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce and the Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy released the report last week.
Mr Guy says the report identified potential growth in sectors like fresh vegetables, poultry and grain production, among others.
"Particularly in the sheep and beef sector, about 80 percent of their land involves sheep and beef farming and there's also potential for more horticulture and poultry production and manuka honey.
"And of course they've got the brainy part of the region there at Massey University where there's a lot of other institutes that are involved in doing research in the primary sector."
Mr Guy says the report was written before the June storm which damaged many farms in the Manawatu and Whanganui.
"This was a big event, but it wasn't as big as 2004, but there are pockets certainly of farming communities that have been very badly affected."