ABGC welcomes assessment of Banana BMP
ABGC CEO Jim Pekin said upon completion, the project would give more information to growers on which to base their farm management decisions.
“The economics work will be done by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries as part of the Reef Water Quality Program and aims to give growers information on how the various farm practices impact on farm profits,” he said.
The project aims to help growers identify which practices will have the greatest impact on profitability, water quality and on-farm biosecurity.
Mr Pekin said the banana industry has run a range of successful farm management projects over many years relating to the use of farm inputs and the retention of soil on farm. The consequence of these has been reductions in chemical use and sediment movement.
“ABGC policy is about improving the water quality leaving farms.”
ABGC is keen to work with the Queensland Government to ensure the research reflects the on-ground knowledge that our growers can provide.
The ABGC released its BMP Guidelines in June 2013, with the aim that by June 2019, 50 per cent of national state banana production would be utilizing them.
Mr Pekin said growers were on track to reach this target. “We currently have farms covering more than 54 per cent of the North Queensland banana production area using it.”
Banana BMP Guidelines cover practices including land and soil, pesticides, integrated pest and disease management, fertiliser and soil additives, water, biodiversity, waste, air, energy and fuel.
For more information:
Paula Doran
ABGC
Email: Paula.Doran@abgc.org.au
Tel: +64 7 3278 4786
Mob: +64 447615135