South Australian farmer Harry Kapiris is among many that has reported positive tests for tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), which is set to cost the industry “tens of millions of dollars.”
This has forced Kapiris to let go of 30 staff members and incurring losses of approximately $1 million, and with the virus persisting there is a palpable sense of anxiety amid the uncertainty.
“It’s not a good feeling to destroy perfectly good-looking crops. It’s heart-wrenching,” he told ABC.
“We had a couple of positive results in two [glasshouses] out of probably about 20 or 25 [glasshouses]. We made the decision as a family to scrap the season thus far and try and start again.”
However, starting over is proving challenging. Both state and federal governments have yet to establish a formal process for growers to demonstrate that their properties are free of the virus, which has left Kapiris frustrated.
“They should be aware of it and they should have a plan in place if this virus comes in… But everyone got caught with their pants down, for want of a better adage, just walking around and saying, ‘Well, where’d it come from? What’s happening?’ And really not knowing what to do,” Kapiris concluded.
Source: ABC News.
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