In 2018/19 the agriculture sector contributed output of $1.4 million across East Arnhem and sustained 10 jobs.

East Arnhem has unique native products which, given the growing support for Indigenous native food industries, may have substantial appeal to both Australian and international markets. Kakadu plum and bush apples are two such examples of native products already seeing successful enterprise achievements locally. The agriculture and food industries are currently underdeveloped, though the region may have opportunity to support some of the Northern Territory’s more significant crop production products such as mangoes, melons, bananas, citrus and pineapples.

The Northern Territory Department of Environment and Natural Resources has recently finalised soil and land mapping on lands south-west of Nhulunbuy, which shows potential for local food production. The study examined four separate survey areas located within a radius of 130 kilometres of Nhulunbuy, covering a total area of approximately 80,000 hectares. Potentially suitable land for irrigated agriculture was identified in each of the study areas and given a water resource could be identified, there would be opportunities for local food production in the region.