Carnarvon banana growers experienced the first taste of heat damage for this summer during high temperatures across the region last weekend. Temperatures hovered above 40 degrees Celsius for three days, causing sunburn damage in some crops.

The string of high temperatures was the first severe summer blow for growers following mild spring conditions.

Carnarvon banana grower, Bruce Munro, said that as growers wrap up 2014 and look to the new year, heat and production issues will be exacerbated by limited access to water.

Mr Munro said an ongoing water shortage has made crops more vulnerable to problems like sunburn damage and yield reduction.

"It's always difficult, we've had to cut back on our area and make sure we can water what we've got," he said.

Mr Munro said not only is water in limited supply, but the water available is highly saline, which is not good for banana crops.

"Bananas don't like anything much above 600 parts per million," he said. "[But] my bore's up over 700."

Mr Munro said the Department of Agriculture and Food is working on a drilling program to increase water supply out of the bore field.

But he said the thing that growers need most is a decent river flow.

Source - http://www.freshplaza.com/