Farming needs a better image to attract young people to become the "new gardeners" of Kent.

A conference held on the day that unemployment among 16 to 24 year olds reached record levels heard that the land-based sector, one of the UK's few growth industries, faced a skills crisis.

Failure to sell itself properly was one of the reasons.

There are real worries about attracting the local skilled workforce will need over the next few years without having to rely on migrant labour.

"The industry needs to have a makeover," said George Jessel, an East Kent farmer and chairman of Kent County Agricultural Society.

Nicholas Fox, of the Individual Learning Company based at Brogdale, Faversham, called for "new gardeners" of Kent.

"Where are these new gardeners going to come from?"

He was one of more than 100 delegates at a Kent Economic Board "business growth consultation" on the future of food production, horticulture and agriculture in the county.

It was held at East Malling Conference Centre.

Statistics released yesterday showed that 951,000 young people - one in five in the 16 - 24 age group - are out of work, the highest figure since records began in 1992.

Paul Carter, Kent County Council leader, said it was vital to attract more young people into the industry and urged land-based business to take on more apprentices.

He cited a sheep farmer who told him he could increase lamb production "but he can't find any young people to train and work as shepherds".

William White, NFU south east regional director, said food security, global warming and pressures on farmland made it a top priority business.

It offered good careers but too few people were aware of it.

"There is a latent interest from youngsters and we've got to get better at attracting them."