In what should be a time for citrus export in the MIA to capitalise on Chinese market demand, growers in the area have been dealt a "disheartening" blow.
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The Federal Department of Agriculture proposal to raise fees for export certification by as much as 277 per cent. This will costing the average grower $30,000 - before they have even exported a single carton.
Vito Mancini from Redbelly Citrus has been pioneering to get the MIA and the wider Riverina on the map for international citrus export, yet says the area is now further under threat.
"Apparently there was a consultative period to get to this ," Mr Mancini explained.
That consultancy period was very, very hidden and not many people within the industry knew it was coming up, or what terms of reference they were working towards.
- Vito Mancini
"That consultancy period was very, very hidden and not many people within the industry knew it was coming up, or what terms of reference they were working towards.
"So hear they were going up over 200 per cent is shocking."
Coupled with the drought and high water prices, he labeled the announcement "disturbing" and fears for the future of the industry here.
"The Riverina is the smallest export region out of all the citrus areas in Australia, and we are rapidly trying to catch up to our Southern counterparts," Mr Mancini said.
"So for us to catch up now, we will have significant costs for export. It is disheartening."
Every time we have to lift out prices by 10 to 20 cents it makes the South American's more attractive.
- Vito Mancini
He said a culture within the Federal Department of Agriculture in finding additional charges for growers, as well as "finding more hoops to jump through" over the years was "burdening".
"The overwhelming majority of growers here are mum and dad operators. When it becomes too hard, they will at one point decide it's not worth it.
"We are increasingly getting to that point with the way the department is pushing us."
"We will be taking a delegation to China leaving early December to try to take advantage of more opportunities.
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"These charges are a kick to us.
"Now they are finding ways to deal with these extra cost pressures."
He says even though Australian citrus is highly prized, price wars with South America mean if growers needed to increase their prices, contracts could be lost.
"Every time we have to lift out prices by 10 to 20 cents it makes the South American's more attractive."
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