Our Opinion on Farmers

Our Opinion on Australian Agriculture Industry:

Without farmers, we wouldn’t survive. It is as simple as that. Many of us take for granted the role that farmers play in the local community. They provide the raw materials that make up our everyday necessities. Think about it:

When you walk down the street sporting your new cotton top, you can thank a farmer for that - someone has harvested the cotton to make that top. When you order a hamburger at your local café, you can thank many farmers for that. Someone had to grow the tomatoes, the lettuce, the beetroot, the cucumber. Someone even had to grow the wheat to make the bread! Or, when you wake up every morning and throw off the covers, you can thank a farmer for making the blanket that kept you nice and warm. Every day, we can thank a farmer for something!

We interviewed some of the Year 8 students at Hills Adventist College, to see what their thoughts were about farming. First of all, we asked them what their opinion of a farmer was.

What is your opinion of a farmer?

Joel: “If there were no farmers in Australia it would affect the local community in such a way that it would be catastrophic to Australia and its citizens.”Isaac: “Without farmers, we wouldn’t have many things we take for granted today.”Sulaiman: “I think that farmers are very important towards our community as they are the ones producing our food and breeding the animals to provide our food.”

Jake: “Farmers put in a lot of effort to grow their crops, and they only make a small profit from it because the supermarkets don’t pay them enough. In my opinion, farmers are really hard working and they should be paid much more because their food is always fresh, clean and delicious.”

On a scale of 1-10, how valuable do you consider farmers to be?

Joel: 10/10 -  “Because we couldn’t survive without them!”

 Jake: 10/10. “I think farmers are genuine helpers in society. They get up early every morning to work on their farm and they provide us with nearly all our necessities.”

How much would it affect the local community if there were no more farmers in Australia?

Joel: If there were no more farmers, it would be a huge impact on the local community. We would face a rapid decline of resources. The fashion industry would shut down, small local independent stores would start closing down, and then the big super markets would start closing down. There would be no more raw materials. Realistically, we would all just starve!

Isaac: Farmers are the reason why people have nearly everything we have today. It if weren’t for them, we wouldn’t have any food at all. All our food comes from farmers – from tinned food, to herbs and spices. They also produce most of our clothes, apart from those made synthetically.

Sulaiman: It would affect our community hugely because they are the ones who work hard to get us the food we need. Without farmers in Australia we would have to become "farmers" in a sense because, we would have to catch or buy the animals so we could have food on our table to eat.  We would have no more supermarkets – which provide most Australians with their food. Therefore, farmers in Australia are very important.

Jake: I honestly don’t know what would happen in our local communities if there was no more food to eat. Would everyone just drop dead? Would we all have to become self-reliant on our food source? What would happen? I can’t even imagine the outcome, but I am so thankful that farmers are there to provide all our nutritional needs.

You have just been offered a job in the agriculture industry – what would your reaction be to this?

Maryellen: I think I would have mixed feelings. I would be disappointed because I have always imagined myself in city-based jobs, however I do believe that I would learn to enjoy it. Think about it. No more hustle and bustle. No more of the 9-5 desk job. No pressure, fresh air, clean food, green grass. I think that it would be a more ‘pure’ and down-to-earth lifestyle – but perhaps I am just a naïve city dweller. Also, most of the jobs available in the city are also available in the country. There are many possibilities.

Do you think that farmer’s prices are too expensive? Would you rather buy home brand than farmer’s products?

Jake:  The farmers’ products are a little bit more expensive but it is worth paying for an Australian product because it keeps our farmers employed and keeps money in Australia. It’s also fresher and better quality because it is not sent by a boat and we should support our farmers in our country before we support other farmers in other countries. As nation we should be sufficient. We should not rely on other countries for basic foods.

As you can see, there are many differing opinions in relation to farmers. However, the reality is that farmers are the back-bone of Australia. They contribute to our everyday needs, and we often take them for granted.

With thanks to Joel, Sulaiman, Maryellen, Jake and Isaac - Year 8 Hills Adventist College.