Australia's peak vegetable growers body has applauded the launch of the Australian Manufacturing and Farming Program (AMFP), which is designed to boost ties between politicians and the industry.

AUSVEG Communications and Public Affairs Manager William Churchill said the concerns of the country's 9,000 vegetable and potato growers were often set aside by decision makers, so it was great to see an attempt to remedy this situation.

"I commend Senator John Madigan for getting such an excellent initiative off the ground and acknowledge the support he has received from the Hon Bob Katter MP and Senator Nick Xenophon in reaching this point," he said.

"The AMFP will assist the Australian agricultural and manufacturing sectors by ensuring that their issues are more widely considered in the national political debate.

The AMFP is a non-partisan initiative which is designed to highlight the critical roles that the manufacturing and farming sectors play in Australia's development.

"Senator Madigan announced his intention to establish a program of this type in his maiden speech as a newly elected member of the Senate. Today’s launch represents the fruition of these intentions and an exciting new era for the Australian horticulture industry, as well as for wider members of the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

"While today’s launch aims to improve connections between vegetable growers and politicians, the real test will be to see if the concerns of industry are recognised by the Gillard Government, or if these issues will continue to be, on the whole, set aside by those in power.

"The current issue relating to the proposed importation of potentially diseased fresh potatoes from New Zealand is just one example where the Gillard Government is ignoring the concerns of industry. We hope that this program will improve communications between our growers and our political representatives in Canberra."

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