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January/February
- 2017
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| YOUNG GROWER PROFILE |
HOW DID YOU FIRST BECOME INVOLVED IN THE
VEGETABLE INDUSTRY?
I’ve been involved in farming since my parents moved up
to Darwin back in 1996. As a child, I would do the odd jobs
around the farm with my brothers to help out Mum and Dad.
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN THE BUSINESS?
I am currently the owner/operator of Nexgen Produce. My
parents are semi-retiring and have been kind enough to let
me use their land to cultivate my own produce.
NAME:
Chris Pham
AGE:
26
LOCATION:
Marrakai, Northern Territory
WORKS:
Nexgen Produce
GROWS:
Lebanese cucumber, snake beans, bitter
melon, sin quar, winter melon, long melon and okra
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?
My greatest achievement so far is simply being recognised
by my own parents, who have been farming for over 20
years, as being very capable of running the farm. My father
especially has been a great mentor and with their guidance,
I hope to achieve much more.
NEXT GENERATION IN THE TOP END
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR AVERAGE DAY AT WORK?
I can sum it up in one word and that would be BUSY. No
two days are the same but there is always something to do.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT WORKING IN THE
VEGETABLE INDUSTRY, AND HOW DO YOU MAINTAIN
YOUR ENTHUSIASM?
I enjoy the process of watching my crops grow from a tiny
seedling to a fully-fledged harvest. There is something very
beautiful and satisfying about knowing that my produce
will end up at a family dining table. This is what keeps my
enthusiasm and motivation up.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU FACE
WORKING IN THE INDUSTRY?
As we have well and truly moved into the wet season in the
NT, one of the main challenges I’m facing as a new farmer is
controlling the amount of water to feed the crops.
HOW DO YOU THINK MORE YOUNG PEOPLE COULD BE
ENCOURAGED TO STUDY AND TAKE UP JOBS IN THE
VEGETABLE INDUSTRY?
I personally feel that in the last couple of years there has
been this major health kick epidemic that’s taken over
social media. There are so many people now who are health
conscious, who are heading to the gym and eating a more
healthy diet. I feel that if we start talking more about where
healthy food comes from, and how it is produced and
harvested, it will encourage the younger generation to be
more interested and involved in the vegetable industry.
WHERE DO YOU SEE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH
IN THE AUSTRALIAN VEGETABLE INDUSTRY?
I definitely see growth in the export sector of the vegetable
industry. As a country, our produce is one of the highest of
qualities in the world and there is a big demand for that.
IF YOU WEREN’T WORKING IN THE VEGETABLE
INDUSTRY, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING?
Believe it or not, I was working for one of the big four banks
before farming. So I guess if I wasn’t given the opportunity
to take over the farm, I would still be in the corporate world.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN FIVE YEARS?
I see myself still farming in the next five years, but on a bigger
scale. I also hope that in due time I can set up and branch out
into the organic market.
Photography by Nichole Taylor.