The Federal Smart Farms initiative is backing Central Victoria’s Dja Dja Wurrung Aboriginal Clans Corporation through its commercial arm Dja Dja Wurrung Enterprises trading as ‘Djandak’ in the innovative modernisation of indigenous grain crops. Rodney Carter CEO of Dja Dja Wurrung Enterprises yarns with Gman. CEO, Rodney Carter is delighted to announce big steps forward in the investment to develop indigenous crops to both enable self-determination of Dja Dja Wurrung people, plus make steps to provide an opportunity for all farmers to take up a unique perennial crop, for which there are no equivalents in today’s mainstream agricultural scene. “We want to positively assist farmers with commercially viable cropping options and at the same time heal country” he said.
This week marks significant progress, with the completion of: • The Research Agreement, with leading research agronomist, James Hunt and plant ecologist John Morgan, in a partnership with La Trobe University and Dja Dja Wurrung Enterprises. • Announcement of a new PhD Scholarship on the theme plant, kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra) • Two research and indigenous management sites in the centre and south of Dja Dja Wurrung lands, at Barringhup and Smeaton. • 86,000 plants currently growing for planting • Forming a Traditional knowledge group for the project • Project Manager, Latarnie McDonald, who is bringing the plan to reality • Federal Department of Agriculture backing of indigenous grain crop development with Dja Dja Wurrung, with all reporting stages on track.