Kiwifruit disease PSA has spread to New Zealand’s South Island, making hopes of eradicating the disease near impossible as the industry looks to take an aggressive strategy to manage it.
The kiwifruit Industry Advisory Council (IAC) and the NZ biosecurity minister, David Carter, have agreed that the only prudent approach is to take an aggressive strategy to manage the disease, which has been found in 25 orchards. This represents less than one per cent of the total NZ industry.
The IAC is working on a response plan, including detail regarding management protocols appropriate for various levels of symptoms, orchard hygiene advice, continued research into PSA and a grower support package. Any action plan will be ratified by growers through a consultation process.
