Industry groups welcome Psa assistance

New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated (NZKGI) president Neil Trebilco says the organisation has worked closely with the Government, to firstly extend the coverage of existing adverse events recovery provisions to include incursions on pests and disease, and then get the Psa-V support package approved for kiwifruit growers.

"This will give some growers most affected by Psa a level of financial and welfare support to help them through the impact of this disaster," says Trebilco

"The reality is the full impact of Psa is only just beginning to be felt as many growers start to face their first season without all, or a large part of their orchard cash flow, as a result of having lost their vines to the disease."

"When the income from their last harvest stops is when the financial and psychological pressure of Psa will weigh most heavily on growers and their families," Trebilco said.

Under the support package those growers who are eligible will be able to:
• Have access to welfare and psychological support, through a Government contribution to community support agencies working with impacted growers and their families.
• Receive the Rural Assistance Payment (RAP). To be eligible, growers have to meet an income and asset test. For example, $341.60 for a married couple with no children, and $204.96 for a single person over 25 years of age. Assets that are part of the kiwifruit growing business will not be included in the assessment.

The Government's recovery framework was initially designed with one-off weather events in mind and assistance runs out after 12 months for the Rural Assistance Payment and 18 months for the welfare support from the date of the declaration, Trebilco said.

"The nature of the spread of Psa means that its impact will not be felt by everyone at the same time," says Trebilco. "It will continue to spread through the country so that means growers in different regions will face the pressure of the Psa incursion at different times.

"We will work with the Government to develop a practical solution to this timeline challenge so help is available when growers need it."

It is important growers and the wider public realised the Government support was not forever.

If anyone needs assistance they are encouraged to contact NZKGI on 0800 232 505.

Zespri CEO Lain Jager says the announcement of further support from the Government recognises the fact that, despite growing understanding of how to grow with Psa, there is a still a significant way to go until the industry recovers.

"Unfortunately there will be a lag between getting new knowledge and tools, and growers being able to re-establish their orchards and begin to earn an income again. To get growers through this period of reestablishment will require ongoing support from many parties." This included the government package.

Horticulture New Zealand president Andrew Fenton says the kiwifruit industry is worth more than $1 billion a year to this country and it provides more than 15,000 jobs.

"This kind of support is critical to ensure we can ride out this very bad time," Fenton says.

Four of HortNZ's eight directors are kiwifruit growers. Fenton is a kiwifruit and avocado grower in Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, and has been dealing with Psa-V on his own orchards.