The peak body for dried fruit growers has slammed the government's agricultural storm assistance measures and are instead offering its own.

In November a freak hail storm ripped through South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales causing up to $150 million of damage in Victoria alone. The Insurance Council of Australia said payouts from the storm totalled $190 million for all three states. Dried Fruits Australia has announced cash grants of between $500 and $1000 for eligible growers to help with recovery, citing the lack of assistance offered by the respective state and federal governments. Chair Mark King said severely damaged growers had lost not only their current crop but sustained damage to next seasons with hail destroying potential growth on their vines. He said taking on more debt when some farmers would not have an income for two harvests was not an option. "If it's some small way that we can give something back we want to," he said.

"I don't know when the government will wake up and realise that when you get a disaster whether it's hail, flood, drought or whatever offering loans isn't the answer.

"There needs to be something that keeps food on the table and the bank off the door. "More loans is just, nobody's takes them up." Source - http://www.abc.net.au