SERIOUS disease outbreaks in banana plants overseas are serving as a grave warning to Australian producers not to be complacent about preventative measures.
In recent months, the Saint Lucian banana industry in the Caribbean has faced an outbreak of black sigatoka after a previous attack of yellow sigatoka.
In the African nation of Uganda, growers are trying to stem the spread of fusarium bacterial wilt disease (Panama disease race 4), affecting major production areas.
Biosecurity Queensland senior operations officer Kev Leutton said the outbreak of the bacterial wilt disease had been blamed on farmers taking tools used on one farm to other farms without sterilising their equipment.
"It seems they were not aware that this simple act carried a high risk of spreading disease," Mr Leutton said.
"Fortunately, Queensland producers are armed with updated information and advice on how to prevent banana diseases and how to respond to outbreaks."
Mr Leutton said about 80 percent of Australia's bananas were grown in North Queensland.
Any complacency about disease threatened this $360 million industry, he said.
The industry was "very fortunate that far northern producers and biosecurity authorities were able to eradicate black sigatoka when it occurred 12 years ago
However, the disease had been costly for producers and the Queensland economy.
Black sigatoka is a leaf spot disease caused by the fungus, mycosphaerella fijiensis. The first symptoms are narrow, rusty, reddish-brown streaks on the underside of leaves.
"When it comes to diseases such as Panama race 4 and black sigatoka, we definitely don't want to be reading the kind of reports in our local papers that Ugandans and Saint Lucians have been reading lately," Mr Leutton said.
"Biosecurity Queensland is committed to helping Queensland banana producers prevent banana diseases, not just respond to them.
"The message is clear: If you think it's a disease, report it, please."
New opportunity
Meanwhile, the Australian Banana Growers' Council (ABGC) said last week it would welcome the opportunity to work with Queensland's newly elected LNP Government and the newly appointed Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, John McVeigh, on issues of crucial importance to the state's banana industry.
ABGC chairman Doug Phillips said his council looked forward to working with Mr McVeigh.
The ABGC also supported the restructure of the former Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) and the formation of the new Department of Agri-culture, Fisheries and Forestry, Mr Phillips said.
"We are pleased to see agriculture given greater recognition, given its important contribution to Queensland," Mr Phillips said.
Mr Phillips said Queensland grew about 90pc of Australia's bananas.
This meant the crop was by far the state's largest horticultural industry.
"We were pleased with the commitment to agriculture and the vision for the sector's future shown in the LNP agriculture policy released prior to the election and with the announcements now made by the new Government," Mr Phillips said.
"We were particularly pleased with the LNP commitment, announced prior to the election, to the revitalisation of frontline biosecurity services, including the addition of 15 biosecurity officers to help protect all Queensland agriculture, including the banana industry.
"The ABGC now looks forward to offering our assistance as the LNP government works to advance this and other important initiatives that will help ensure the growth of the banana industry."
