Innisfail banana grower Mark Nucifora believes the national banana levy proposal is a fair and reasonable model, and is encouraging all banana growers to lodge their vote by the June 4 ballot deadline.
As Innisfail Banana Growers Association president, Mr Nucifora said that although voting is not compulsory it is important that growers participate in the ballot so that the outcome is a true reflection of what growers want.
“I support the entire levy proposal, including the way the levy is to be collected, the way it will be divided up to support various industry needs, and the process by which it will be allocated,” Mr Nucifora said.
“Having a levy is essential for an industry to go ahead, so that it can properly fund promotion, research and development, and plant protection needs,” he said.
Mr Nucifora said that any product needs to have a strong promotion presence in the marketplace if it wants to retain its market share.
“And without any investment in research and development, which is the situation we are in at the moment, then the banana industry is not going forward it is actually going backwards,” he said.
“If we can’t protect our borders from exotic pests and diseases, then we will lose our clean, green future and it will cost us more to grow bananas.”
Banana growers are currently being asked to vote on a national levy proposal to set a 1.7c/kg levy on all bananas sold, with 1.16c/kg being directed to promotion and 0.54c/kg to research and development.
That 1.7c/kg multiplies into $4.4 million annually, when all growers are involved in supporting industry initiatives.
Growers received information about the national banana levy proposal by post in early May and must return their vote by post before 4 June.
Any inquires about the ballot and the levy proposal can be directed to the Australian Banana Growers’ Council chief executive officer Tony Heidrich on 0427 987 499 or by visiting www.abgc.org.au.
For comment, contact Mark Nucifora on 0438 654 934
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