The Queensland government hopes to help banana farmers prevent the spread of a devastating fungal disease by mailing out hundreds of information kits.
Panama Tropical Race 4 was detected at a far north Queensland farm in early May – the first time the soil-borne infection had made its way into Queensland after wiping out the Northern Territory’s industry in the 1990s.
Fears it had spread to a second farm were allayed last month with the revelation that a “state-of-the-art” test had misdiagnosed another property at Mareeba.
Queensland’s 280 commercial banana farms will be sent information kits from the state government about precautions to prevent the disease from spreading, Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne said on Friday.
“Each kit contains a guide on identifying the disease and information on surveillance and testing, decontamination, Biosecurity Queensland processes, standards and guidelines on biosecurity, and industry and community support services including contacts,” he said.
“It is vital we continue to do all we can to protect our largest horticultural industry.”
The booklets were a joint project with the federal government and would also be sent to local governments that require access to farms.
Panama disease, which can survive in the soil for up to 40 years, enters the banana plants through roots before spreading and blocking the vascular tissue.
It cannot be cured or controlled by any known chemical, however does not pose any human health risks.
AAP
