NZ: PSA relief too little too late for some
On Wednesday the Ministry of Primary Industries declared the kiwifruit killer bacteria Psa-V a medium-scale national biosecurity threat and announced a recovery package to help growers and other industry workers affected by the disease.
Psa-V has infected several of Northland's 200-plus kiwifruit orchards, mostly in the Kerikeri area but with a couple in Whangarei.
The support package focuses on such things as access to counselling and help agencies.
It includes Rural Assistance Payments (RAPs) in cases of extreme hardship - $342 per week for an eligible childless couple, or $205 for a single person over 25 years old.
One Whangarei grower said the$50million Rural Assistance package - a $25million contribution each from the Government and the kiwifruit industry - was "welcome, but not enough in an industry worth $1.5billion a year".
Source: northernadvocate.co.nz