Bananas lead a surge in Far Northern agricultural production

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Pete Faulkner - Cairns, Uncategorized

Data released today for the 2019-20 financial year shows the Cairns region saw a very strong increase from last year in the value of agricultural production on the back of a surge in bananas.

Across the nation the value of agricultural production increased just 0.4%, to $60.7 bn, with the increase down to a $2.8 bn increase in the value of livestock slaughtered. In Queensland the total value rose by 4.9%, again largely on the back of livestock slaughtered rising $815.6 m (or 12.1%).

In Cairns we witnessed a far strong performance with total value of agricultural produce up $189.4 m, or 20.5%, to $1.1 bn on the back of a massive 33.3% increase in the value of bananas (up $145.8 m to $583.3 m). Sugar Cane was down 3.5% to $196.6 m while live stock slaughtered was up to $120.6 m (a 65.1% increase!).