Tamworth (Australia) (AFP)

There was this endless drought, these devastating forest fires, then the coronavirus ... But Kevin Tongue wants to believe that the rain which finally made the grass rise in his pastures announces better days for him as for all the breeders from South East Australia.

"What we have overcome in a year ...", he says incredulously, watching his lambs graze on green shoots in one of his fields.

"It was desert," he shows. "It's just amazing how the earth responded to these rains."

Eastern Australia has experienced one of its worst droughts in recent years, which has forced many farmers to shut down.

But in the vicinity of Tamworth, a town five hours' drive from Sydney, recent rains and even more precipitation forecasts could be enough to ensure the sustainability of the agricultural sector, despite the arrival of a new calamity, the coronavirus epidemic.

- "Do not ignite" -

"We also don't want to catch fire," relativizes Kevin Tongue. "The harvest is still far away and Mother Nature can turn everything upside down very quickly."

Yet it is the first time in a long time that farmers have shown any confidence. Especially since experts from Rabobank Australia are also expecting a good year for the agricultural sector despite global economic uncertainties. Very export-oriented, it should indeed benefit from the relative weakness of the Australian dollar.

Farmers like Mr. Tongue went through a veritable black streak, in addition to drought, catastrophic forest fires and floods.

"It is an unprecedented sequence in the countryside, which has weighed on agricultural producers in particular," explains John Warlters, director general of the organization Rural Aid.

Many farmers need hay for livestock, water supplies or financial aid, he explains. But they also need psychological support.

"The rain will not make this need for psychological help disappear. Nor will the restrictions on Covid-19 come to an end."

- "Everyone must eat" -

Of course, the resilience of some breeders has been strengthened by the prices of beef and lamb that have held up, explains the mayor of Tamworth, Col Murray. This is partly explained by the drop in herds.

"The drought has been extraordinary and its impacts will be felt for years, but the ambient optimism is quite surprising," he said. "It feels good."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcomed signals this week suggesting an end to the drought, while deploring the impact of the coronavirus.

"Restaurants and cafes are closed, so they no longer buy from local producers," he said.

But Kevin Tongue, he believes that the epidemic has not changed that much in his daily life.

In a country as large as Australia, isolation is a way of life for peasants who practice social distancing on a daily basis, without restrictions having to be imposed.

"This pandemic has in fact had no impact on agriculture," he says. "We never stopped working."

About 70% of Australian agricultural production is exported and the vast majority of food consumed locally is produced in the country.

If there's one thing consumers shouldn't be afraid of, it's a shortage, says Tongue.

"It's good that we can help the population. Everyone has to eat, you know. There will always be demand for our products."

© 2020 AFP