NZ: Welcome news as PSA gets adverse event status
“There is no doubt this disease has dealt a major and most unwelcome blow to kiwifruit growers in New Zealand,” HortNZ president Andrew Fenton says.
“The Government has listened to the concerns of our industry and has reacted by providing support and reassurance.
“The kiwifruit industry is worth more than $1 billion a year to this country and it provides more than 15,000 jobs.
New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) welcomes Government approval for a financial and recovery support package, for kiwifruit growers hit by the vine-killing disease Psa.
New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated President Neil Trebilco says the organisation has worked very closely with the Government, to firstly extend the coverage of existing adverse events recovery provisions to include incursions on pests and disease, and then get the Psa-V support package approved for kiwifruit growers.
“This will give some growers most affected by Psa a level of financial and welfare support to help them through the impact of this disaster.”
“The reality is the full impact of Psa is only just beginning to be felt as many growers start to face their first season without all, or a large part of their orchard cash flow, as a result of having lost their vines to the disease.”
“When the income from their last harvest stops is when the financial and psychological pressure of Psa will weigh most heavily on growers and their families,” Mr Trebilco said.
For more information:
Andrew Fenton
Horticulture New Zealand
Tel: +64 (0)27 493 0123
or
Neil Trebilco
New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated
Tel: +64 (0)27 548 0125