The implementation of a National Psa-V Pest Management Plan is one step closer now growers have voted in favour of the strategy.

Kiwifruit Vine Health chief executive Barry O'Neil says 77 per cent of those who voted in the recent poll supported the proposal to implement the plan that will increase the industry's powers to act over out breaks of Psa.

'Fifty-percent of growers voted, which is higher than other votes in the industry and we are very pleased growers have given their support,” says Barry.

The voting was based on production and two groups were able to vote, growers and leaseholders.

Earlier this week Barry and chairman of Kiwifruit Vine Health Peter McBride met with the Minister for Primary Industries David Carter, Tony Ryall MP for Bay of Plenty and Wayne McNee, Director General of the Ministry for Primary Industries to discuss the results of the pole.

Although they couldn't take part in the vote, postharvest companies, New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc, the Industry Advisory Council, Zespri and Turners & Growers had all registered their support for the plan, says Barry.

'In light of the support from growers we have asked that the Minister and MPI approve the strategy. Given the consultation already carried out, we don't believe extensive consultation is required but the Minister may wish to conduct targeted consultation before presenting it to Cabinet.”

If approved by Cabinet, Barry says the National Psa-V Pest Management Plan will be included in new biosecurity legislation currently before the house.

'The process could take in the order of three months.”

If passed kiwifruit will be the first horticultural industry to have its own pest management strategy.

Current similar strategies exist for tuberculosis in cattle and deer and America Foulbrood disease in bees but both have been in existence for some time.

The plan will give the industry greater powers over the management of abandoned orchards and wild kiwifruit in partnership with regional councils.

Having a plan to manage Psa should their vines be affected would be mandatory for all orchardists, as would the reporting of any suspected new cases of the disease.

Mandatory restrictions will apply to the movement of budwood or rootstock from confirmed Psa-V positive orchards.

KVH has told growers that working with them and other industry participants to achieve voluntary compliance will be the main focus when implementing the plan.

Raising awareness and further education, by providing practical information that assists growers and others to make the right decisions at the right time, will continue to be fundamental. Strong research and development programmes to find solutions that minimise the impacts of Psa-V and support the re-establishment of infected orchards to full productive capacity, will continue to underpin effective Psa-V management.