You only have to drive around the state to see our industry flourishing and we're delivering water surety for our farmers to provide certainty.

In fact, 15 of the past 19 major irrigation schemes built in Australia have been commissioned here in Tasmania with several more literally in the pipeline.

Last month I visited a canola field near Epping Forest with Tasmanian farmer, George Gatenby, to announce that the business case had been finalised for the $146.88 million Northern Midlands Irrigation Scheme, and last week I joined farmers in Latrobe to see the preferred design option for the $62.7 million upgraded Sassafras Wesley Vale Irrigation Scheme.

I often say, water is liquid gold and we saw that in operation at Stuart Greenhill's magnificent property near Port Sorell where irrigation allows him to grow spuds, carrots, cauliflower, peas and broccoli to deliver on his retail contracts to supermarkets.

These partnerships between the Tasmanian government, the Australian government and farmers, and delivered by the team at Tasmanian Irrigation, have revolutionised agriculture and are the envy of other states.

Tasmanian sustainable agriculture continues to lead the nation, accounting for nearly all of the growth in Australian agriculture in 2019-20.

The 2019-20 Agri-Food Scorecard just released shows that the gross farm gate value of agricultural production in Tasmania increased by 13 per cent, exceeding $2 billion for the first time.

Farm gate value of dairy increased 10.6 per cent with record milk production volumes, fruit increased by 22.1 per cent, vegetables increased 13 per cent, meat increased by 20.4 per cent.

Tasmanian farmers are leading the nation and this fantastic news.

Tasmanian farmers produce over five times more food than Tasmanians consume with the surplus sold interstate and overseas.

In 2019-20, the value of Tasmania's international food exports reached a record $954 million, while agri-food exports increased by 23 per cent to $1.08 billion and accounted for around 29 per cent of Tasmania's total merchandise exports.

The agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector is Tasmania's second-largest sector, employing around 14,500 people, nearly three-quarters of them full-time, and accounting for 9.1 per cent of Gross State Product in 2019-20.

Tasmania's sustainable agriculture sector is the envy of the nation and the Tasmanian Liberal government is extremely proud of everyone who is involved in this innovative and sustainable industry which has a big and bright future for decades to come.