The Banana Growers' Council has allayed concerns raised by some growers over hardware giant Bunnings selling banana plants. The Council heard concerns about the sale of banana plants from Bunnings, including in Innisfail.
"As the peak industry body, ABGC is constantly working with relevant authorities to maintain and promote strong biosecurity for the banana industry," the newsletter said. "This work must take place within current legislation (the Biosecurity Act of 2014, which came into place in 2015). This Act marked a move to 'shared responsibility' by Government - meaning industry was expected to take a greater role in managing biosecurity threats.”
The ABGC said it has worked with Biosecurity Queensland to ensure plants supplied into Bunnings were of high health, have been produced via Quality Approved Banana Nursery (QBAN) accredited facilities and that biosecurity risks were minimised in Bunnings distribution centres.
"Ultimately, plants sold at places like Bunnings are available to backyard growers, which is why steps taken to try and ensure their health are so important," the ABGC told queenslandcountrylife.com.au. "The ABGC provides a range of information to the public via its website, Facebook, through fielding calls and via points of interest like gardening clubs.”
