FURIOUS citrus growers faced with the threat of losing the lucrative US market say they will continue to fight to save their businesses, despite the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) standing by its decision to cut fruit fly funding.
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The state government announced just weeks ago it would pull funding for fruit fly management from the Riverina, leaving control of the devastating pest solely in the hands of growers.
Growers met with NSW DPI and the Riverina Biosecurity Committee last week in a bid to develop a long-term management strategy for fruit fly in the region.
However, Bart Brighenti from Sumar Produce, who heads the recently formed volunteer group Riverina Citrus Growers Incorporated, said he was "very disappointed" by what came out of the meeting.
"Leading into the meeting, the DPI had no consultation with the industry, especially packers," Mr Brighenti said.
"We had stressed all along that the DPI has to notify the industry of what its intentions are, but we were not consulted before the DPI went down the path to this decision."
Mr Brighenti said the loss of the fruit fly exclusion zone � which was regulated by the DPI � meant the US would no longer accept fruit from the Riverina.
"For my business, the US is the most important market, but the DPI seems to think the US is not an important market," he said.
"The ramifications of the fruit not going to the US means we would have to put that volume of fruit into other markets, which could potentially depress all markets."
NSW plant biosecurity director Satendra Kumar defended the decision, saying the current approach and maintenance of the Fruit Fly Exclusion Zone was "no longer technically feasible or financially justifiable".
"It is acknowledged that deregulation will also have drawbacks," Dr Kumar said.
"NSW DPI and Riverina Biosecurity Committee are developing a range of measures to help growers transition to the new arrangement."
Former chairman of the now-defunct Riverina Citrus Frank Battistel said he understood growers needed to take greater responsibility for fruit fly management, but they could not do it alone.
"If farmers, council, backyard growers and the DPI all do their bit, there is no reason why we can't get this area clean," Mr Battistel said.
"But the DPI can't just walk away from this.
"There are other alternatives to raise the revenue needed, but they needed to put in place another funding arrangement."
