NZ: Kiwifruit Vine Health expects US$40M+ in Psa expenditures - FreshFruitPortal.com

NZ: Kiwifruit Vine Health expects US$40M+ in Psa expenditures

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NZ: Kiwifruit Vine Health expects US$40M+ in Psa expenditures

New Zealand's Kiwifruit Vine Health (KVH) expects to record expenditures between US$40-44 million on fighting Psa-V disease this financial year, newspaper Waikato Times reported.

KVH general manager John Burke told the newspaper US$44 million would be a 'worse case' scenario, but this would still mean US$6 million in funding which is hoped could be utilized over three years.

He said the first 12 months of spending were part of a "building phase" that included funding tools for orchard protection, research and development, and biosecurity measures, the story reported.

"That building phase is nearing completion. Now we are entering an operational maintenance phase and looking at the core function of KVH and what it will cost," Burke was quoted as saying.

"We want to carry on operating as long as possible without going back to growers and the industry for money."

Burke estimates only 30% of gold kiwifruit growers in the Bay of Plenty expect to harvest next year.

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