Stakeholders in Australia’s citrus industry will be given the opportunity to provide feedback on the future of their levies at Citrus Australia’s upcoming regional forums. The peak industry is inviting input from growers, packers and marketers on a proposed levy increase of A$1.50 per tonne.
Growers currently pay A$2 (US$1.8) per tonne to Horticulture Australia and Plant Health Australia to fund both the national citrus research and development (R&D) programme and biosecurity expenses.
“This is not enough to fund the five year industry strategy which the industry has agreed upon,” Citrus Australia’s chief executive Judith Damiani explained.
The proposed increase would raise the R&D levy from A$1.97 to A $3.20 (US$1.8 to US$2.9) per tonne, while spending on biosecurity would improve from A$0.03 to A$0.30 (US$0.02 to US$0.27) per tonne.
Damiani said the R&D levy has not increased for close to 20 years.She said past research has led to the development of new markets, including China and the Philippines, with more spending in this department likely to create further opportunities for higher priced products.
“It is like running today’s business with a 20-year-old budget,” Damiani said. “Our China trade last year was worth A$21m (US$19m), up from nothing in 2010. That is really making your levies work for you.”
Damiani suggested an increase in the biosecurity levy would fund programmes to safeguard the industry against diseases such as huanglongbing and citrus canker.
