THE Cobram and District Fruit Growers Association (CDFGA) believes the Victoria Government’s plan to abandon funding to support the management of Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) will have a catastrophic impact on Victoria’s horticulture production.
CDFGA president, Tony Siciliano, this week said the proposed Victorian Fruit Fly Strategy 2021-25 does not adequately protect Victoria and criticised its positioning of withdrawing support for successful initiatives to control Qfly, to instead focus on exotic species of fruit fly.
“Our view is that it is essential to maintain the focus on the existing Qfly threat as the highest priority, this needs to be done in tandem with consideration of exotics, however we need a focus on both rather than one or the other,” Mr Siciliano said.
“The potential impact from Qfly on crop sales is massive and applies directly to domestic sales and is a direct barrier to increasing exports,” he said.
“Ours growers require ongoing support from the government to keep fruit fly at manageable levels, as we simply cannot do it alone without ongoing support. We have exceptional industry and community support but government needs to maintain a commitment to this industry’s fight against fruit fly,” Mr Siciliano said.
