NEW BANANA FEAR

Industry on alert as farm giant faces Panama disease threat

ONE of the country’s largest banana producers faces a nervous wait after an initial test at their Tully Valley farm returned a positive result for Panama Tropical Race 4 disease.

Far North banana growers have been urged to ramp up biosecurity efforts as third-generation farming giant, Mackays, works to quarantine the infected area of their banana property. Results of a second diagnostics test to confirm an outbreak could take up to six weeks.

Australian Banana Growers Council chairman Stephen Lowe said the news was “not pleasing”.

“It is highly likely, because the DNA testing came back positive, that it will be positive. But we just have to dot the Is and cross our Ts,” the Tully grower said.

Mr Lowe said the grower involved was “very forward-thinking” and had complied with best biosecurity management practices.

He said he was “very confident everything” had been done to stop movement of soil on and off the farm.

A Mackays spokeswoman declined to comment but she said the firm was working with Biosecurity Queensland.

The company, which has been successfully producing the fruit for 65 years, employs 400 staff on five properties covering 3600ha in the Tully area.

The news is worrying for the Far North’s banana industry, which has strengthened biosecurity efforts since Panama TR4 disease was first detected on Cavendish banana plants on the Robson farm in Tully Valley two years ago.

The growing region represents about 94 per cent of Australia’s $600 million banana industry.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor John Kremastos said it was “terrible news”, but urged the region not to panic because secondary results had not been returned.

He pointed to a false disease diagnosis in Mareeba two years ago as proof for a need to be cautious about reaching conclusions too early.

“We shouldn’t be panicking in anyway shape or form,” he said. “The growers now understand the problem better. They have got biosecurity on their properties and I think they are better prepared. We are a resilient mob down here.”

Tolga banana grower Aaron Serra, who runs a 100ha plantation, said the positive test wasn’t a huge surprise.

“I am surprised it is the only one so far,” he said. “At the end of the day it is a worry.”

The soil-borne fungus enters a banana plantation’s root system and restricts the uptake of water, stopping them from producing harvestable bunches and eventually killing them.

The disease is not harmful to humans and does not affect the fruit. Biosecurity Queensland’s Chief Biosecurity Officer Dr Jim Thompson said owners of the infected property had been very proactive.

If you suspect Panama disease in your plants, report it immediately to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23. To find out more about Panama disease tropical race 4 visit www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au