Movement controls on kiwifruit orchards lifted

Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

Biosecurity officials who have given up on eradicating the bacterial disease spreading through New Zealand kiwifruit orchards today began lifting movement controls placed on 103 orchards known or suspected to be infected.

"Restricted Place" notices were placed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on infected kiwifruit orchards across the country to control the movement people, plants and material which might spread the Psa bacteria.

At least 100 orchards have had the bacterial disease PSA confirmed in their vines.

Now growers with infected vines will be issued with a General Permissions document and a suite of best-practice orchard management guidelines.

The new documents outline a grower's obligations under the Biosecurity Act and give instructions that will enable growers with infected vines to return to full orchard operations while minimising the risk of Psa spread.

"This action will allow greater flexibility for the movement of equipment and personnel between orchards, including PSA-affected orchards," said the chairman of Kiwifruit Vine Health Inc, (KVH) Peter McBride.

The incorporated society was set up last night to effectively take over some of the things MAF biosecurity staff have been doing to control the spread of the infection.

Lifting the restricted place notices demonstrated the industry's confidence in growers to cooperate in the spread of Psa and "re-define" best-practice orchard management, said Mr McBride, who is deputy chairman at Zespri.

"Kiwifruit orchard operations across New Zealand will now be redefined as a result of the presence of PSA," he said. "All growers are strongly encouraged to adhere to the newly defined best practice orchard management guidelines and operational processes".

A "whole-of-industry" approach was needed to effectively manage kiwifruit operations across New Zealand and ensure a strong and viable industry .

KVH will be registered in the next few days to operate as a non-profit body.

It will:

* implement the aggressive containment strategy for Pseudomonas Syringae pv. Actinidiae (PSA), including negotiation of funding agreements with the Government and Zespri, paying handouts payments to growers; and

* develop and implement a long term PSA pest management and monitoring plan, which may include taking on the role of a management agency under the Biosecurity Act 1993.

In addition to Mr McBride, directors of the society include Zespri's global supply general manager Simon Limmer, Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) chief executive Mike Chapman, NZKGI forum member Paul Jones, Seeka chief executive Michael Franks, Punchbowl Group managing director Rob Craig, and MAF biosecurity response manager David Hayes.

- NZPA