Melon producer chosen to develop 5,700 hectares near Larrimah

A New South Wales watermelon grower will lead the 5,700 hectare development near the Northern Territory town of Larrimah.
Highlights: The NT Land Corporation has chosen Larrimah Farms for 5,700 ha developmentLarrimah Farms will grow melons and test other crops on a large scale Pty Ltd, a consortium between Jamie Schembri and a South Australian family, is developing the Larrimah agricultural compound.
The land is the second of three planned areas the company will own to the NT government has liberated for agricultural development.
Mr Schembri originally farmed in the Riverina area of New South Wales, but grows melons in the area of Douglas Daly in the Northwest Territories for two years.
He said Larrimah Farms would initially look to grow melons and then test crops on a large scale.
Melon grower Jamie Schembri has been looking to buy land in the Northern Territory for several years. (ABC Rural: Daniel Fitzgerald)
"[We will] gradually test new crops such as ginger, turmeric, cumin, black sesame, fennel, caraway and hemp, and develop new crop varieties that have already been tested such as chickpeas, corn and sorghum,” Schembri said.
In 2021, NT's 10,000 megalitre Land Corporation for Larrimah Lands has been revoked following concerns raised by the Northern Land Council and Environment Center NT.
Larrimah Farms will need to apply for a new water extraction license and clearance permits.
More than 1,400 hectares are suitable for intensive irrigated agriculture, according to NT Land Corporation.
Developers in Larrimah agricultural area will need to apply for permits clearing and water extraction licenses. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)
Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said "the Larrimah agricultural compound will bring a boost economy to the region, with increased jobs and opportunities for locals as well as attracting skilled professionals from other parts of the country," she said.
"The neighborhood is near the proposed infrastructure corridor between Tennant Creek and ...

Agrotech Dec 22, 2022 0 52 Add to Reading List

Melon producer chosen to develop 5,700 hectares near Larrimah

A New South Wales watermelon grower will lead the 5,700 hectare development near the Northern Territory town of Larrimah.

Highlights: The NT Land Corporation has chosen Larrimah Farms for 5,700 ha developmentLarrimah Farms will grow melons and test other crops on a large scale Pty Ltd, a consortium between Jamie Schembri and a South Australian family, is developing the Larrimah agricultural compound.

The land is the second of three planned areas the company will own to the NT government has liberated for agricultural development.

Mr Schembri originally farmed in the Riverina area of New South Wales, but grows melons in the area of Douglas Daly in the Northwest Territories for two years.

He said Larrimah Farms would initially look to grow melons and then test crops on a large scale.

A standing man in front of a melon paddock.

Melon grower Jamie Schembri has been looking to buy land in the Northern Territory for several years. (ABC Rural: Daniel Fitzgerald)

"[We will] gradually test new crops such as ginger, turmeric, cumin, black sesame, fennel, caraway and hemp, and develop new crop varieties that have already been tested such as chickpeas, corn and sorghum,” Schembri said.

In 2021, NT's 10,000 megalitre Land Corporation for Larrimah Lands has been revoked following concerns raised by the Northern Land Council and Environment Center NT.

Larrimah Farms will need to apply for a new water extraction license and clearance permits.

More than 1,400 hectares are suitable for intensive irrigated agriculture, according to NT Land Corporation.

Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said "the Larrimah agricultural compound will bring a boost economy to the region, with increased jobs and opportunities for locals as well as attracting skilled professionals from other parts of the country," she said.

"The neighborhood is near the proposed infrastructure corridor between Tennant Creek and ...