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Producers in the Ord Valley are being asked to strengthen their support for the Kununurra Crop Pest Control Committee (KCPCC). This is to ensure that the benefits of a low pest status for the area are maintained. Grower and KCPCC acting chair Lachlan Dobson said the work of the committee was vital in protecting market access for the Ord River Irrigation Area's (ORIA) varied horticulture crops, which have a present production value of $32 million. "Some 30 percent of these crops are host species to Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly)," he said. "The ORIA and East Kimberley are the only fruit-growing areas in WA free of fruit fly. "This provides a marketing advantage in supplying interstate and international markets, which demand either area freedom from fruit fly or treatment for fruit fly." The KCPCC was established in 1997 following a growers' poll. It was formed under the auspices of the Agricultural Produce Commission. Its charter is to control crop and pest diseases so that the quality or volume of produce is not affected. |
Lachlan said the committee managed funds collected from growers via a 'fee for service', which helped to fund some Department of Agriculture pest control programs. "Growers have contributed half the cost of a fruit fly surveillance grid in the ORIA, and have also provided funding for emergency pest eradication, as was required when Medfly was eradicated in 2000 and 2003," he said. "Grower funding via the fee for service is also used to support monitoring for melon thrips to allow continued access to WA markets for produce from the ORIA. Without area freedom, costly individual inspections or treatments would be required for these markets." He said in the event of a Medfly outbreak in the East Kimberley, Perth would be the only market accessible for untreated host produce. All eastern states markets and all export markets in Asia and New Zealand would be closed to ORIA produce if not treated with the recognised protocol for that area for a period. "This would adversely affect not just growers but their suppliers and many sectors of the local community," he said. "Economic studies using net present value and benefit cost ratio have shown there is a sound economic basis for maintaining area freedom from Medfly. |
Acting Secretary for the KCPCC and Kimberley Primary Industries Association executive officer David McKerrell said the KCPCC was important, as it continued to protect the region's area freedom. "Currently the committee covers matters of pest control for all of our ORIA crops. "It is vital that growers continue to support the KCPCC. "There is also an opportunity, through a grower poll, to widen the services of the committee to include such things as research, educational programs, market promotion, quality control and compensation schemes to compensate producers. "Before this can happen, the committee needs grower support. "In addition to fruit fly, industry needs to be concerned about keeping out or controlling other significant threats such as Panama disease of bananas, mango scab and citrus canker." Lachlan and David are inviting comments from growers on how the Kununurra Crop Pest Control Committee might be continued and improved, and would also welcome offers to serve on the committee. Lachlan can be contacted on 9168 2022 and David on 9168 1166. |