TASMANIAN poppy growers should not fear competition, regardless of its origin, Poppy Growers Tasmania chief executive Keith Rice has said.
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Mr Rice was addressing about 100 farmers and their service providers at the Grains Research and Development Corporation's farm business update, at Inveresk Tramsheds, on Tuesday.
Corporation Southern panel chairman Keith Pengilley said that the aim of the update was to provide farmers and advisors with a forum to learn from and network with leading industry professionals.
Mr Rice said that Tasmanian poppy growers needed to focus on productivity and embrace change.
"Productivity is the key to success and Tasmania has all the tools needed at its disposal to grow world-class pharmaceutical poppies," he said.
"We have the land, an irrigation scheme that's the envy of every other state, a mild, maritime climate, sensible regulation, enthusiastic farmers and more than 45 years of collective knowledge.
"Average world morphine production in 1999 was 5 kilograms of active product a hectare and Tasmania was 10 — last year, the world was on 11 kilograms a hectare, with Tasmania on 20.
"The world's still on 11 kilograms a hectare with thebaine orapavin, but Tasmania's average is 27 and boasts a top crop of 92 kilograms a hectare.
"It must be remembered that Tasmania's average includes this dreaded 'class 4' and 'class 5' land through the Midlands that supposedly won't grow anything, but produces up to 50 kilograms a hectare for those farmers who pay attention to detail.
"We're not equal to the best in the world, we are the best, but we mustn't become complacent."
Mr Rice said that he doubted the price would rise, at least in the short term, and contracted land would not increase this coming season.
That left just increased productivity to improve returns in an industry that boasted a great future, Mr Rice said.