Mowanjum announces partnership with Giovi

Written on the 9 May 2016 by Jael Napper

The Mowanjum Aboriginal Corporation Pastoral Station has announced a business partnership with Giovi.

The announcement was made at a media conference last week attended by Minister for Water the Hon. Mia Davis and Minister for Water and Hon. Dave Grills Member for Mining and Pastoral Region.

Giovi's property portfolio consists of 37,801 hectares of prime farmland owned and located throughout Western Australia producing large scale grain, wool, live sheep, sheepmeat, cattle, beef and legumes.

In addition Giovi also farms another 7,000 hectares under long term leases, and its partnership with Mowanjum is expected to help with the station's future commercial development.

In June 2014, State Government supported a business case to establish an irrigation trial on a 400 hectare diversification permit area on Mowanjum station.  A 38 hectare centre pivot irrigation system was commissioned in August 2015 to access underutilised groundwater sources and develop a stand and graze operation.

The trial is a demonstration model for other pastoral stations in the Kimberley with access to water. Crop research, irrigation data and herd analysis will be published and shared to enable growth of pastoral operations and capitalise on the world's expanding beef market.

In December 2015, State Government approved an application by Mowanjum Aboriginal Corporation for an option to proceed to conditional freehold for an area of 4100 hectares in accordance with the Water for Food Land Tenure Option Plan.

During last week's announcement of the business partnership with Giovi, Ms. Davies introduced a trainee program which she said ensures future generations of Mowanjum farmers to sustain the busines for the traditional landowners in generations to come.