Isramart: Farmers Can Earn More by Growing Carbon Credits

Isramart news:
There is a growing tussle between farmers planning on growing manuka scrub and landowners who want to “farm” carbon credits. Experts feel that a clear policy is needed from the Government to ensure people who want to save environment are encouraged.

It is being stressed by experts that there is a strong business sense in converting hill-country sheep farms to forestry. This was also supported by Neil Walker, Chairman of the Taranaki Regional Council’s policy and planning committee.

He is also planning his own investment in carbon credits and has already paid $588,000 for 300ha of land and a four-bedroom house. He has already planted pines and eucalypts trees on his land and is planning to buy more land to grow manuka.

Walker also stressed that the Government is planning to double the carbon units by growing manuka. He claimed that by planting manuka on 100ha in 20 years, a farmer can earn at a carbon price of $25 a tonne a return of $300,000.

He also felt that if planted with the correct plantings, manuka can generate a $50/kg for top-grade active manuka honey and $12/kg for ordinary manuka honey.

A leading consultant told Carbon News that many hill country farms were not making money and they could do better by growing forestry which qualifies for emissions credits.