The Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Bill English, has told farmers they will play a key role in growing incomes and jobs in other sectors over the next decade.
Mr English told Federated Farmers' national conference in Auckland that exports had shrunk year on year since 2004, recovering only slightly in the past two years.
He says farmers are now in the box seat as the economy shifts from consumption and debt to being driven by exports, production and savings.
Mr English says the agricultural sector is in pretty good shape and is going to be an important part of lifting national income over the next 10 years.
