Citrus growers fight squeeze: [1 Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 22 Feb 2002: 32.
Abstract
Growers estimate there are around 3000 citrus growers remaining, with hundreds of growers having left the industry over the past decade. The Australian Citrus Growers Association claims the majority of remaining growers are finding survival “very challenging”.
The industry claims to have been badly affected by low-cost imports of juice concentrate from Brazil which have been escalating for the past 12 years. The level of protection for Australian citrus growers has fallen to around two per cent, while Brazilian growers enjoy subsidies and protection of around 35 per cent.
Report caned:Riverina, Riverlands and Sunraysia growers are in turmoil; Photo: Photo
Full Text
* Rural
THE citrus industry is in uproar over the release of a Productivity Commission report telling growers to get bigger or get out.
The Productivity Commission’s position paper Citrus Growing and Processing suggests that uneconomic citrus growers should walk off their land. Those left behind should increase farm sizes and become more efficient.
The descendants of thousands of families who established irrigated enterprises on soldier settler blocks throughout the Riverina, the Riverlands and Sunraysia during the early and mid 1900s are now surviving as much on off-farm income as they are on the once profitable pride and joy of their grandparents.
Growers estimate there are around 3000 citrus growers remaining, with hundreds of growers having left the industry over the past decade. The Australian Citrus Growers Association claims the majority of remaining growers are finding survival “very challenging”.
The industry claims to have been badly affected by low-cost imports of juice concentrate from Brazil which have been escalating for the past 12 years. The level of protection for Australian citrus growers has fallen to around two per cent, while Brazilian growers enjoy subsidies and protection of around 35 per cent.
The Commission acknowledges the industry is hampered by a number of regulatory impediments, such as high trade barriers in some countries and costly labour market arrangements.
To the outrage of growers, the Commission recommends the dismantling of export arrangements with the US, one of the few aspects of the industry which is proving profitable.
While originally welcoming the Commission’s investigation, executive director of the Australian Citrus Growers Association Judith Damiani describes the report as “a kick in the guts”.
She said small growers, many around the Mildura and Griffith, are finding it hard to sell their properties.
Grower Kevin Cock decried the writers of the report as 1980s- style economic rationalists who cannot see how to drive business forward.
“Their theory is to drive out what they class as inefficient growers, but that doesn’t happen, it doesn’t work that way,” he said. “We need to stimulate those farms to make them viable and export oriented.”
Illustration
Caption: Report caned:Riverina, Riverlands and Sunraysia growers are in turmoil; Photo: Photo
Word count: 359
Copyright News Limited Feb 22, 2002