Farmers and communities in the North East will benefit from a new $200 million Agriculture Infrastructure and Jobs Fund, according to Member for Northern Victoria, Jaclyn Symes. The fund will drive economic growth, create jobs and boost exports from paddock to port, she said. The new fund, which will be established following the successful passage of the Port of Melbourne lease legislation through the Parliament, will support investment in agricultural infrastructure and supply chains to boost productivity, increase exports and reduce costs so our farmers, businesses and industries can strive in the global market. It will be available for practical projects and programs that wholly benefit the agriculture sector including transport, irrigation, and energy projects, as well as skills development programs and market access campaigns. Eligible applicants will include farm businesses, industry and agribusiness organisations, asset owners such as water authorities and local government. Agriculture and our farming families sit at the heart of rural and regional Victoria, with our food and fibre industry contributing more than $11 billion to our economy and employing more than 87,000 people, Ms Symes said. This fund will ensure were investing in the infrastructure we need to help our farmers and producers in North-East Victoria get their goods to market faster so they can take advantage of new local and international opportunities. Leasing the Port of Melbourne will make our port even better for local farmers, increasing efficiencies and competitiveness, including a significant benefit from the Ports decision to implement an export discount. The fund will be established following the successful passage of the Delivering Victorian Infrastructure (Port of Melbourne Lease Transaction) Bill 2015, it is therefore vital that the Liberals and Nationals support this legislation in the Parliaments upper house, Ms Symes said. This new fund will invest in critical infrastructure, providing concrete benefits to the many thousands of hardworking farmers in the North East that depend on this important sector, she said. The announcement of the fund has been welcomed by the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF). President Peter Tuohey said The VFF has a strong belief that the lease of the Port of Melbourne should return a benefit to Victorian agriculture and this announcement of an Agriculture Infrastructure and Jobs Fund is a substantial and needed investment in the development of our agricultural sector.