mmg.com.au

Cobram fruit growers and suppliers are calling on anyone with a fruit tree or vegetable garden to invest in a fruit fly trap to prevent any potential infestation.

The Department of Primary Industries is in the process of de-regulating fruit fly control due to the high number of outbreaks and increasing cost of controlling the pest in Northern Victoria.

Cobram Fruitgrowers Association president Frank Diaco said he would encourage people to invest in a trap, which cost about $20 to $30.

‘‘If the townspeople don’t get on board (by laying their own traps) we won’t get anywhere,’’ Mr Diaco said.

‘‘In the past if there was an outbreak, the department would go around spraying and baiting, but this will no longer occur and the onus will fall back the community in general to protect their own area.’’

Cobram fruit grower Sam Sorrenti said protecting the area from fruit fly was vital.

‘‘It’s important to the industry and the industry is important to Cobram,’’ Mr Sorrenti said.

‘‘It’s the livelihood of the area ... we create jobs.’’

Fellow grower Adrian Conti agreed saying in the instance an outbreak occurred, the cost of treatment was considerable and it had an impact on the local economy in general.

The three growers collectively employ more than 100 people and more than 50 growers in the wider Cobram area could potentially be affected if an outbreak was to occur.

Fruit fly traps are available at Mitre 10 Cobram.