AU: Farmers worried by ginger imports
The department says the report proposes strict quarantine conditions but Australia's largest fresh ginger grower, Shane Templeton, says he is not convinced foreign pests will be stopped.
"The worst one is actually ... it's a radopholus similis, it's a nematode, in Fiji it will actually wipe out 70 per cent of their crop," he said.
He's so worried he is conducting his own study into the plans.
"We've got pathologists, entomologists, people who have looked at specifically ... ginger and trying to get the right people who can give us the scientific knowledge," he said.
Chief plant protection officer Dr Vanessa Findlay says farmers have until September 10 to respond to the report, then it is up to Fiji to fulfil the quarantine criteria.
"It could be months or it could move into next year, depending how complicated that process becomes," she said.
If all goes smoothly the first imports could become a reality in just 6 months.
Source: abc.net.au
