QUEENSLAND fruit fly is a serious pest that can affect production and markets in horticulture industries – more than $1 billion of Victoria’s horticultural exports are susceptible to damage from fruit fly.
Victoria’s capacity to manage Queensland fruit fly and protect horticultural production and jobs will be reinforced with a $6.4 million investment in the Victorian Budget 2021/22.
The investment will back the implementation of the Fruit Fly Strategy for Victoria, which promotes a community and industry-led approach to the issue.
Fruit fly can build up in home gardens and unmanaged lands which then leads to problems on 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 Budget investment, $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 co-ordinators 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 Victorian Farmers Federation have welcomed the Government’s announcement.
Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, said “This announcement of funding for Fruit Fly control is disappointing and a missed opportunity. While funding is included to continue the work of the three program co- ordinators, it appears funding for the delivery of the program has actually been cut by about half.”
