THE provision of horticultural extension services is being farmed out to industry bodies in Victoria, as the Department of Primary Industries undergoes further restructuring.
The DPI last month offered the lure of a state government grant while seeking expressions of interest from groups willing to employ industry development officers.
Horticulture program manager Euan Laird said the development officers would be part of a Horticulture Industry Network being developed by the DPI to address shortcomings in the system.
Mr Laird said many industry groups were trying to "do good work" but relying on memberships did not provide them with enough capital or a solid funding base.
So far more than 20 groups have taken part in information sessions to explain the plan, which will shift responsibility for extension programs from the DPI to industry bodies.
Victorian Wine Industry Association chief executive Joanne Butterworth-Gray said his organisation would seek funding to employ at least three IDOs, who would be responsible for providing agribusiness development, communication and extension activities to growers.
Ms Butterworth-Gray said the plan was an "excellent opportunity" to fill a gap that had grown with the demise of the DPI's GrapeCheque extension program.
Fruit Growers Victoria manager John Wilson said it was important to avoid program duplication.
"We need to ensure a better outcome for farmers, otherwise why do it?" he said.
The mostly defunct DPI FruitCheque, GrapeCheque and VegCheque commodity-based extension programs are being scrapped on July 1.
Mr Laird said DPI staff who had offered extension programs were being absorbed into the Farm Services Victoria branch. They would focus on water and climate, biosecurity and strategic business development issues, while the IDOs would take on technical and agronomic roles.
"IDOs do a lot more than transfer research and development," he said.
"The reality is IDOs are fully engaged with their industry and do the broad cross-section of things to follow issues through and gain support - everything from exposing someone to information, to signposting them to appropriate technical skills and organising group activities, so people can learn from each other."
Mr Laird said the network would bring the IDOs together every four to six weeks.
"They will also be in close contact with DPI researchers," he said.
He said smaller groups were being encouraged to get together and lodge a consortium bid by Friday's deadline.
Mr Laird said the network would complement, not replace or compete with, the Horticulture Australia Limited system of IDOs.
A HAL spokeswoman said 18 tenders for the provision of IDO services were being assessed, with a decision due at the end of the month.
