WELLINGTON, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- New Zealanders have a positive view of farmers and growers, according to a research released on Tuesday.
The research, conducted by UMR Research into perceptions of the primary sector, shows that primary producers are valued and respected and appreciated by city folk.
The research has shown Kiwis are almost five times as likely to hold a positive view of sheep and beef farming than a negative one, and more than twice as likely to hold a positive view towards dairy farming than a negative one.
“Auckland, our largest urban area, are bigger fans of dairy farming than anywhere else in the country,” said Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor.
“The research is at odds with the perception that farmers are not well-liked by their urban counterparts. Researchers have gone out and polled New Zealanders and found that is simply not true,” O’Connor said.
Primary sector exports are strong, reaching record highs, and the government is “looking to the long-term to make sure it stays that way,” he said.
