Kiwifruit growers hope Psa will be declared 'adverse event'

Photo / APN

Kiwifruit growers are hoping the vine-killing disease Psa will soon be declared an "adverse event".

Psa is now spreading further across the Gisborne region, with another three orchards now confirming its presence.

Growers Inc president Neil Trebilco said making the outbreak an adverse event would trigger financial support for those now struggling to get by.

"It would simply enable orchards who have no income at all, to be able to put food on the table for their family," he said.

Mr Trebilco said when Psa first broke out in Bay of Plenty they had hoped it could be contained.

"With it being found in Gisborne, that means that the only region of any note that has kiwifruit now, that hasn't got (Psa) through our knowledge, is the Nelson region.

"And so that's extremely disappointing, that's actually right through the country now, within two years."

The Government has promised a decision on the handling of Psa soon.