Loans for Tasmanian farmers with ideas

Tasmanian farmers with a fantastic idea will be able to apply to the state government to share in a new $10 million agricultural loan scheme aimed at supporting long-term profit-making ventures.

Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff launched the scheme on Monday, saying it is well suited to farmers who are looking to diversify but who are wary of what can be a significant gap between the start-up outlay and the generation of income.

"These funds may, for example, assist new entrants into the industry, provide irrigation infrastructure loans, assist in farm productivity improvements and horticulture developments, including replanting orchards to update varieties," he said, adding that applications are welcomed from people in the fruit, wine, horticulture, aquaculture and apiculture sectors, along with agri-tourism and flow-on industries.