IN a bid to further strengthen SA's fruit fly management strategy, the state government has committed to the Commonwealth government's Intergovernmental Agreement on Fruit Fly Management.
The management system was agreed upon in-principle at the Agriculture Minister's forum in Adelaide last month.
The state government has committed to investing a further $1.09 million funding across four years as outlined in the agreement.
This is on top of the $20 million the government already expects to spend on fruit fly control throughout the next four years.
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Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Tim Whetstone said SA was backing industry calls for a nationally co-ordinated approach to battling fruit fly.
"While discussion at the Agriculture Minister's Forum on a national approach to fruit fly was very positive, we recognise the importance of all states signing this Intergovernmental Agreement," Mr Whetstone said.
"I have written to the nation's agriculture ministers encouraging them to support a national approach to fruit fly management," he said.
SA is the only mainland state to maintain a fruit fly free status.
"The $16.9 million investment announced by the Commonwealth Government in the mid-year Budget will address national management of fruit fly as well as focusing on utilising greater technologies to combat this pest, such as Sterile Insect Technology," Mr Whetstone said.
"To minimise the impact of fruit flies on Australia, it is vital state governments collaborate better on early detection, diagnosis, stakeholder cooperation, international and domestic market access, emergency responses and ongoing management," he said.
The state government recently introduced a zero tolerance approach at the Yamba Quarantine Station and random roadblocks to further the state's protection against fruit fly, while also eradicating outbreaks at Loxton, Ceduna and Thevenard.
- This story first appeared on the Stock Journal.
