As we reported earlier this month, a report by the Department of Industry and Investment showed that the

Sydney vegetable-growing industry was shrinking.

The report said that more than half of Sydney's vegetable-growing was in the north-west and south-west areas earmarked for housing.

A Penrith Council spokesman said that to protect the city's rural qualities, and cater for growth, it had set urban limits in its planning.

He said the council supported and encouraged agriculture in the region through its strategic plan, and that agriculture in Penrith had an annual output of more than $100million.

``The Hawkesbury/Nepean is known as Sydney's food bowl with much of the fresh vegetables consumed in Sydney grown in the region,'' he said. ``Penrith City is keen to continue to provide its share.''

The council has a 50 per cent rate discount for farms, with the number of farms increasing by about 5per cent in the past five years.

Property developer lobby group Urban Taskforce said home buyers would be ``punished'' if growth was ``crippled'' because of agricultural self-sufficiency. Spokesman Aaron Gadiel said: ``The modern supply chain no longer requires our food to be produced close to urban areas.

``Australia has a generous supply of agricultural land. Most of our agriculture is well outside the areas of urban expansion and is not at risk.''

But what of the people who do own large lots? Hawkesbury Harvest secretary Alan Eagle said there were probably not enough farms to feed Sydney.

``We need to grow food somewhere,'' he said.

``People have got to think about where food comes from.

``If food becomes scarce, how are people going to feed themselves?''