WELLINGTON, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) on Wednesday announced funding of 9.8 million NZ dollars (6.7 million U.S. dollars) for 31 new Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) projects, aimed at building economic, environmental, and social sustainability in the primary sector.

The SFF provides funding for projects led by farmers, growers, and foresters and has recently been replaced by MPI's new Sustainable Food and Fiber Futures (SFF Futures) program.

"SFF has been instrumental in kicking off both small and large innovative, community-led projects, and laying the groundwork for SFF Futures," Steve Penno, director of investment programs at MPI, said in a statement.

The new 31 projects cover areas from apiculture and dairy to soil management and horticulture and are great examples of innovative thinking, Penno said.

"These projects look at tackling problems or advancing opportunities for the community. They will contribute towards growing our regional economies, protecting our environment, and providing social benefits for New Zealand," he said.

"They range from a project aimed at building our apiculture industry's capacity by training people on tree species that support bee populations, to one that's about improving water quality through the use of plantain pastures to reduce nitrogen leaching," Penno added.

Another project is looking to understand fish behavior at pump stations and how to reduce the threat the stations have on native fish, while another involving five properties in the Central Hawke's Bay will assess the opportunity for growing kiwifruit in the region.