Zespri is reporting the details of a $50 million joint government are to be explored on Thursday afternoon with talks with growers hosted by the Kiwifruit Industry Advisory Council.

Grower meetings like this one held last week are expected to be held soon to discuss the government's ‘aggressive containment' plan.

At 10am, Biosecurity Minister David Carter announced the government would spend $25 million on grower compensation for income loss, management techniques and continued research into the Psa disease.

This offer is to be matched dollar-for-dollar by the industry to create the $50 million pool.

David says the money is to be spent on 'aggressive containment” of the disease that is threatening the kiwifruit industry worth $1.5 billion to the New Zealand economy.

This strategy is expected to provide some assistance for affected growers to take aggressive action on their orchards to reduce the level of the bacteria and minimise further spread, and lower the potential losses from Psa.

There are now 31 orchards in New Zealand confirmed with a Psa infection. These orchards are in Te Puke, Whakatane, Edgecumbe, Hawke's Bay and in the South Island at Motueka.