Xero data shows small business productivity fell in New Zealand last year.
The accounting software company produced national productivity data by measuring the sales and hours worked by its clients across all industries.
The data shows the average productivity was 6.1% lower last year than in 2022.
Pūrākaunui market gardener and Xero user Jed Tweedie grows organic leafy greens, root vegetables, herbs, edible flowers and microgreens on an 11ha property in Mihiwaka, near Orokonui Ecosanctuary.
He believed sales had increased up to 20% in the same period.
"All of our customers are sticking with us and prepared to slowly buy more over time."
Any concerns an increase in demand during the pandemic would drop were unfounded.
"We were worried Covid was a bit of a blip, where everyone was into organics for their health, but we are doing OK."
Xero country manager Bridget Snelling said the data showed the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector had the largest productivity fall of -12.1% last year.
Other industries represented were hospitality (-9.2%), retail trade (-7.8%), real estate services (-7.7%), construction (-7.4%), manufacturing (-5.9%), professional services (-5.9%) and other services (-1.9%).
Although agriculture had the largest fall in productivity in 2023, it remained above the national average and ranked ahead of four other industries last year, she said.
Of the nine regions measured, Otago had the smallest productivity drop (-3.2%) and Waikato had the largest (-7.9%).
