Far North Queensland is the region that produces more than 90 per cent of all Australia's bananas, but growers are on high alert this week after devastating floods increased the risk of the greatest threat to Australia's $600 million industry. The soil-borne fungal blight known as Panama disease tropical race 4, or, Panama TR4, is contained to eight properties in the Tully Valley, but there are fears of further spread.
Leon Collins, a banana grower and chair of the Australian Banana Growers Council: "Panama Tropical Race 4 can be spread very easily through water, soil and water movement. We've only had infected properties up the top of the river, now of course it has the potential to be throughout the whole river system. It might not show up on new spots for up to two years, but it's something we've got to live with," he said.
The renewed fears of disease follow a week of devastation for growers where flooding has destroyed banana plants.
While Cyclone Jasper and its associated flooding is not expected to have as big an impact on prices, the spread of Panama TR4 could spell significant trouble for the industry.
Source: abc.net.au
