According to the Cobram and District Fruit Growers Association (CDFGA), the Victorian government's plan to abandon funding to support the management of Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) will have a catastrophic impact on Victoria's horticulture production. CDFGA president Tony Siciliano has stated that the proposed Victorian Fruit Fly Strategy 2021-25 does not adequately protect Victoria and criticised its positioning of withdrawing support for successful initiatives to control Qfly, to instead focus on exotic species of fruit fly. Siciliano said: "Given the ongoing economic significance of Qfly, the CDFGA does not support the focus on exotic fruit fly if it is at the cost of funding and support to the existing Qfly problem through the Goulburn Murray Valley Regional Fruit Fly project.” "Our view is that it is essential to maintain the focus on the existing Qfly threat as the highest priority, this needs to be done in tandem with consideration of exotics, however we need a focus on both rather than one or the other." An Agriculture Victoria spokesperson said the proposed fruit fly strategy demonstrates Victoria's commitment to the national fruit fly management system including nation-wide prevention and eradication of exotic species and local management of established species. Since 2015, the Victorian Government has invested $10.1 million, including $8.7 million in grants, on managing established fruit fly under the State-wide Fruit Fly Action Plan 2015-2020. Siciliano said the potential impact from Qfly on crop sales is massive and applies directly to domestic sales and is a direct barrier to increasing exports. Source - https://www.freshplaza.com