Page 22 - Tropic Magazine Issue 17

TROPIC • AGRICULTURE

Cautious celebration

POSITIVE RESULT
It’s been more than four years
since a potentially industry-
ending disease was detected
in Tropical North Queensland
banana plants.
Words Renee Cluff Fruit report card
Farmers and communities which like a marathon for Cavendish Australia’s love affair with avocados
depend on the $500 million banana growers who have had to adapt to appears to be continuing unabated, with
industry are cautiously celebrating a new regime of strict biosecurity new figures showing it was the best
success in containing the soil- controls, it’s really just the beginning performing fruit crop in Tropical North
dwelling fungus, known as Panama of the battle. Queensland last financial year.
Tropical Race four. Just three The marking of the milestone has
neighbouring Tully Valley properties been tempered by a reminder that the ANNUAL VALUE
have tested positive to the disease fungus remains alive in the soil for
AVOCADO
94% Last financial 12,000 people are 96% $543 million
It’s estimated
(+45%)
of Australian year, production employed in the
banana was valued at of Australian BLUEBERRIES
production $484 industry, with households $309 million
occurs in the majority of buy bananas (+26%)
Far North million jobs in Far North
Queensland Queensland.
MANGOES
$204 million
since it was discovered in 2015, a feat 40 years. “Panama TR4 is here to stay (+4%)
which the Australian Banana Growers’ and it will spread,” Mr Lowe said. “We
Council said is unprecedented. can’t afford to be complacent.”In the
“No other country with the disease meantime, Mr Lowe said researchers BANANAS
has been able to contain the spread are getting closer to finding a new $484 million
as well as we have here,” said Chair commercially-viable banana variety, (- 6%)
Stephen Lowe. “It’s testament to which is resistant to TR4. “We’re
a united approach from industry, lucky to have some of the world’s best
government and researchers who banana scientists working to find LYCHEES
are doing everything to ensure we these as we speak,” he said. $102 million
safeguard this industry.” (- 10%)
While four years may have seemed MORE: abgc.org.au

LEMONS AND LIMES
Reef farming bill $102 million
(- 3%)
Sugar cane growers have reacted angrily to proposed
new laws aimed at regulating farming practices
in Great Barrier Reef catchments. The new state
legislation includes extra powers for the government PINEAPPLES
to collect data from the agricultural sector. $53 million
Canegrowers Chair Paul Schembri has likened it to big (- 1%)
brother. “It’s a kick in the guts with a follow-through
of added bureaucratic intrusion,” he said. “Cane
growers work for the future of the Reef every day in PAPAYAS
the decisions we make on our farms and 70% of our $31 million
farmland is part of our industry best management (- 1%)
practice program.”
Source: Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook

22 • Tropic • Issue 17