THE status of the Horticultural Netting Program has come under scrutiny following recent hailstom events faced by local growers.
State Member for Shepparton, Kim O’Keeffe, has called on the State Government to provide an update on the program, which aims to reduce crop damage by enabling horticultural primary producers to purchase and install netting over existing crops, as the last round of applications closed on October 17, 2022.
Fruit Growers Victoria estimates that the recent hailstorm event that occurred on March 23, 2023, caused local growers in the region to suffer an asset value loss of $20,877,750. Under the program, growers were eligible for up to 50 percent of the cost to purchase and to install new permanent netting and/or drape netting, up to a maximum of $100,000.
“The impacts of these crop losses experienced by the local horticulture industry across the Shepparton District, not only effects local growers in my electorate, but it also effects other businesses that rely on the supply of this fruit. The only remaining fruit is in areas that were protected by netting,” said Ms O’Keeffe.
“Research has shown that protective netting helps growers produce better crops, in higher numbers to food security and that nets can also reduce water usage by up to 30 percent.”
The horticultural industry is a significant contributor to the Shepparton District and rural and regional economies. In 2021-22, the industry was projected to account for 17 percent value of farm production, with exports contributing 5.5 percent of farm exports.
To enhance growers’ resilience in the face of extreme weather events and ensure that productivity and jobs are maintained, Ms O’Keeffe is calling for further co-investment between the Federal and State Governments in netting to protect horticultural crops
