"We've got to do the right thing for the eradication of it and the right thing for the economy, but there's not much coming from MPI and it's a big loss to farmers."
He had been told at a meeting with MPI yesterday that farmers were unlikely to qualify for any compensation.
"We are all for wanting to get rid of this fellow, and we've laid down our guns and are happy to make it work but by the same token they've got to realise they've taken a lot of income from people.
"We are happy to do this to eradicate the pest but they don't want to help us out to survive as farmers.
"I'm just disappointed that there isn't some sort of help to be offered to the growers and others in the industry."
The legume crop was an important part of crop rotation and generated revenue of about $250,000 a year on the farm.
"There's not a lot of time to find other crops, so what do you do, you can't just change your whole system."
"Without the legumes we just can't keep on growing barley and wheat and things all the time."
He expected there would be flow-on effects for the region as Wairarapa growers struggled to come to grips with the loss.
MPI had admitted the pest had come in through the border and now they needed to take responsibility for their mistake, Mr Booth said.
MPI spokesperson Veronica Herrera said they were working closely with seed merchants to source viable alternative cropping options for Wairarapa growers for the next two seasons, to reduce the financial impacts on farm operations and the region.
"We know that this situation is very concerning to local growers who will bear the brunt of this operation through no fault of their own," Dr Herrera said.
"We very much appreciate their support in helping rid New Zealand of this pest."
Dr Herrera said Wairarapa home vegetable growers would also be asked not to plant peas for the next two seasons.
The weevil has not been found in other regions.
