The Northern Territory Country Liberal Party has pledged $2 million in seed capital to fund the building of the NT’s first mango treatment facility if re-elected next month, turning mangoes into a potential election issue.
The establishment of a treatment facility would open up export markets in China, Japan, South Korea and Indonesia, where strict quarantine requirements currently block Territorian mangoes.
The NT Government opened the Request for Proposal process on August 1, inviting proposals to establish and operate a mango export treatment service in the Top End.
Jabiru Orchids farm manager Ross Maxwell welcomed the Government investment and said it currently took two days to send NT mangoes to an interstate treatment facility.
“We grow 50 per cent of the mangoes (in Australia) and yet our closest facility is in Queensland,” he said.
Mr Maxwell said Asia was the biggest potential export market for NT mangoes.
Minister for Primary Industry and Fisheries Gary Higgins said the service could stimulate the direct export of NT mangoes to a market of 1.8 billion people.
In May’s Budget, the NT Government announced it would invest $2 million to build a Vapour Heat Facility in the Territory.
This announcement faced criticism from some growers, who said irradiation treatment was the way forward for the industry.
Based on further consultation with the NT mango community, the CLP said it would welcome proposals to build either a vapour heat treatment or irradiation treatment facility.
Source: ntnews.com.au
