The Andrews Labor Government is bolstering fruit growers’ capacity to combat against the Queensland fruit fly (QFF) – delivering grants to ensure Victoria is well protected from the pest.
Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney announced the successful recipients from the second round of Victorian Fruit Fly Strategy grants which will help roll out QFF management programs across regional Victoria.
QFF is an established pest in Victoria and can quickly spread from home gardens to orchards – through fruit and vegetables.
Regional coordinators from the Goulburn Murray Valley, Greater Sunraysia and Yarra Valley have received grants to train community groups, nurseries and rural supply stores with skills so that they can identify risks and implement control strategies.
The first round of Victorian Fruit Fly Strategy grants helped regional coordinators to engage with the community in key horticultural areas via more than 130 events and enabled the removal of over 3100 high risk trees.
The grants are being delivered as part of the Labor Government’s $6.4 million Victorian Fruit Fly Strategy 2021-2025, designed to help industry and home gardeners transition to managing fruit fly in their communities.
Other fruit fly management measures outlined in the strategy including regulation, research and preparedness for exotic fruit fly incursions.
QFF management programs are ensuring Victorian growers are well placed to respond to biosecurity risks, while promoting and building confidence in the sector and the community.
For more information visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/qff.
As stated by Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney
“These grants will help equip home gardeners and our producers with the necessary skills to fight Queensland fruit fly across the Goulburn Murray Valley, Sunraysia and Yarra Valley.”
“We’re funding regional fruit fly coordinators to deliver targeted programs that will help industry and community manage Queensland fruit fly into the future.”
“We look forward to seeing more home gardeners skilled up to tackle Queensland fruit fly on their own properties and supporting fruit growers to manage the pest in the face of a changing climate.”
