Western potato growers could regain access to Eastern states’ markets by the end of the year, after a big biosecurity effort demonstrated a rare bug found in Western Australia does not carry a damaging bacteria.
The tomato potato psyllid was detected in Western Australia 18 months ago, causing Eastern states’ markets to shut their doors to Western Australia potatoes, a move estimated to have cost local growers tens of millions of dollars. Other industries, including strawberries and capsicum, were also affected.
While it has been accepted the psyllid itself cannot be eradicated, Western Australia has met surveillance requirements to demonstrate the absence of the bacteria known as CLso in Western Australia, meaning other states can reopen their borders to the state’s potatoes.
To achieve an area freedom certificate, Department of Primary Industries officers tested more than 10,000 psyllids and almost 12,000 host plants over three growing seasons. Up to 300 staff worked on the surveillance program at its peak.
According to thewest.com.au, the Western Australia Potato Growers Association said the psyllid incursion was a major contributing factor towards nine growers leaving the industry since February last year.
