The nature of the industry is that during peak harvesting time, a ready and booming workforce is needed, often for reasonably short periods of time.

Seasonal work suits some people, as it is often low stress, but physically demanding.

However, it is also not reliable and is not constant.

A plan announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison to push long-term unemployed people towards seasonal fruit picking jobs may have some merit on paper.

However, it may also cause more problems than it solves.

Long term unemployed people are looking for stable, secure employment to take them off the production line of Newstart payments and job interviews.

Seasonal work does not solve that problem.

In addition, farmers have long lamented that local people seem to be relatively uninterested in seasonal fruit picking or labour jobs, even when there are jobs going, the locals don’t turn up.

Tasmania Farmers and Graziers Association chief executive Peter Skillern has raised concerns about forcing people into work they don’t particularly want, which may be the case with this new agriculture plan.

While agriculture offers great opportunity, it is not an industry that suits everyone, and neither is it one to go into if you are lacking passion.

However, on the flip side, agriculture offers boundless potential to the right candidate.

Fruit picking or similar labour jobs may be the entry point for most people, but getting a foot in the door may lead to something great.

In addition, with further study, the jobs could lead to management positions or anything further up the career ladder.

Agriculture, like many other jobs, can provide opportunity, if you want to go seek it. Leading people to these jobs may encourage jobseekers to give agriculture a go as a viable career path, which is something that will benefit Tasmania.