Friday, March 29, 2024

Officials too slow on peas

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The Ministry for Primary industries (MPI) was too slow to act on the latest biosecurity incursion, putting the pea industry under serious threat, Canterbury arable farmer David Clark says.
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“This country is one of the only countries in the world free of this (pea weevil) pest and this status has secured us market premiums and attracted key overseas markets, including edible peas into Asia,” the Federated Farmers Mid Canterbury vice president said following an arable farmers meeting addressed by MPI representatives in Ashburton.

As 95% of the world market had pea weevil, NZ had a reputation for its quality, weevil-free product.

Peas for human consumption not only included processed peas but also the dried pea snack food market in Pacific and Asian countries.

MPI said it was most likely the weevil had been introduced in imported seed, possibly American, but that had yet to be confirmed.

Nailing his flag to the wall, Clark said the pea weevil incursion was yet another complete failure of the risk assessment process at the border.

He called on MPI to take responsibility.

“This, as usual, following black grass and velvetleaf is a response too little, too late,” Clark said.

MPI acknowledged it had identified pea weevil in Wairarapa at the end of March.

In an effort to eradicate the weevil, MPI imposed a moratorium, effective from July 27, halting all pea production in Wairarapa for two years.

“It took them over a month to tell anyone in the industry and then until the end of July before action was taken, Clark said.

“It has been complete incompetence by MPI.”

David Clark

Federated Farmers

Meantime, pea straw and pea product had left the incursion zone without any restrictions and while the ministry claimed it had tracked it, he was not convinced.

“It has been complete incompetence by MPI to allow the movement.

“They slammed the stable door shut on July 27 but the horse had ample opportunity to bolt for a whole four months while MPI got their act together,” he said.

Clark said the control that MPI had eventually put in place was very good.

“However, the four months time lag remains the crux of the issue.”

“If the guys in Wairarapa are taking the hit and it is the only chance we have to stop the spread of this pest, it is incumbent on the rest of us to make sure this (moratorium) is sufficiently well managed to ensure that sacrifice is worth it.”

Despite knowing the risk, MPI, until the arable meeting in Ashburton, had planned to provide permits that would allow fumigated pea straw to leave the contamination zone.

That was farcical and presented unacceptable risk, Clark said.

Following growers’ concern MPI had withdrawn any provision that would have allowed fumigated product to leave Wairarapa and was now working with growers in the region for compensation and destruction of the straw.

Federated Farmers Mid Canterbury arable section chairwoman Joanne Burke urged Canterbury growers to have heightened awareness this season.

The NZ pea industry was worth $150 million with a large chunk of that coming from Canterbury.

“We encourage farmers to be actively looking out for signs of the insect this growing season so we can prevent a situation similar to Wairarapa,” Burke said.

MPI assured growers monitoring would be done in pea growing areas in spring and seeds would be inspected at harvest.

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