Australian citrus growers have agreed to a levy increase of A$1.50 (US$1.28 per tonne. A national grower poll was held over the months of October and November to determine whether adjustment was needed, with the majority of growers voting in favour of raising the Horticulture Innovation Australia (HIA) citrus R&D levy and the Plant Health Australia biosecurity levy.
The proposed increases will see the R&D levy jump from A$1.97 (US$1.65) per tonne to A$3.20 (US$2.68) per tonne, while the biosecurity citrus levy be lifted from A$0.03 (US$0.02) per tonne to A$0.30 (US$0.25) per tonne.
Judith Damiani, chief executive of peak industry body Citrus Australia, said the poll results signaled the beginning of a new chapter for the Australian citrus industry, after 16 years of the current levy structure.
“For almost two decades the citrus industry has been operating on the same level of investment,” Damiani explained. “Inflation alone has meant the programme investment has gone backwards.”
Citrus Australia will now be required to complete a submission to Australian agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce to seek his consideration on the levy increases. Damiani said the request is unlikely to be considered until later in 2015, once a senate review into agricultural levies is complete.
“I look forward to working through the implementation process with the Minister as soon as possible,” Damiani said. “Once the increase has been implemented, the additional funds will help the citrus industry to access more export markets; better manage pests like fruit fly and protect orchards from exotic pests.”
