VICTORIA has reinforced its capacity to manage Queensland fruit fly and protect horticultural production with a $6.4 million investment in the recent state budget.
More than $1 billion of Victoria's horticultural exports are susceptible to damage from fruit fly.
Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the government would back the implementation of the Fruit Fly Strategy for Victoria, which promotes a community and industry-led approach to the issue.
"The Fruit Fly Strategy for Victoria empowers industry and the community to lead the way so we can best protect our robust horticultural businesses and ensure their local communities continue to thrive," Ms Thomas said.
"Providing this local, on-ground management helps our farmers to grow the quality produce they are known for."
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Fruit fly can build up in home gardens and on unmanaged land which can cause problems for productive farms.
The strategy, which has been developed in close consultation with industry, will deliver awareness programs that empower the community and growers to keep their crops free of damage from Queensland fruit fly.
As part of the pledge, $5.3 million will be available in grants for Victoria's three key horticultural regions - the Yarra Valley, Sunraysia and the Goulburn Murray.
These grants will fund regional fruit fly coordinators to deliver on-ground help to manage Queensland fruit fly such as monitoring, community awareness programs, hot spot management and trialling of new techniques for improved management.
The strategy will build on the successes of the Managing Fruit Fly in Victoria Action Plan 2015-2020.
Ms Thomas said it would keep Victoria free from biosecurity risks such as exotic fruit fly species while investment in research would contribute to tackling the problem at a national level to ensure trade was unaffected.
The Queensland fruit fly strategy will be released this month with the implementation of the plan to begin in the coming months.
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Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
