Support is now available for businesses and workers impacted by the devastating Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) outbreak in South Australia, with the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) launching an Assistance Hub to provide relief.
The hub, located at the Virginia Horticulture Centre, is designed to offer immediate support for those affected by the virus, connecting them to financial, counseling, and redeployment services.
The outbreak, which has severely impacted South Australia’s tomato and capsicum industries, continues to force growers like Harry Kapiris, owner of Gawler River Tomatoes, to make difficult decisions. Kapiris was recently compelled to destroy approximately $1.1 million worth of tomatoes after ToBRFV was detected in the region, leading to the loss of 30 workers from his business.
Despite the severe losses, growers like Kapiris are trying to remain resilient, with Kapiris pointing to systemic biosecurity failures as a potential cause of the outbreak. He highlighted that imported seedlings could have brought in the virus, saying, “The biosecurity authorities are supposed to screen the seedlings that come in from overseas, so it looks like a bad batch has come through.”
The SA government has imposed a full ban on stock movement from three farms in the Adelaide Plains to prevent the virus from spreading further.
Premier Peter Malinauskas has emphasised the urgency of the situation, stating, “This is not an easy decision, but we have one chance to try to contain this virus.”
Efforts include a quarantine of a greenhouse property and an eradication strategy that involves crop destruction, cleanup, and disinfection.
The Assistance Hub at the Virginia Horticulture Centre, 942 Old Port Wakefield Road, Virginia, operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. The PIRSA Recovery Hotline (1800 931 314) is also available for those needing assistance. Multicultural communities are encouraged to share this information widely.
Producers are urged to report any suspected signs of ToBRFV to the national Exotic Plant Pest Hotline at 1800 084 881 to connect with local biosecurity authorities.
