In Bungundarra, near Yeppoon in central Queensland, Eddie Cowie has harvested the season's first lychees after a five-year hiatus. The Cowie family farm faced devastation following two consecutive natural disasters, impacting their lychee production significantly. In 2019, a bushfire destroyed 1,500 of their lychee trees, right before the harvest was expected to yield $250,000. This disaster occurred shortly after the family had recovered from the damages caused by Cyclone Marcia in 2015, which was described as the most significant crop since the cyclone's impact.
The fire, stretching 14 kilometers long and 6 kilometers wide, not only obliterated the lychee orchard but also resulted in a $100,000 loss from newly installed netting. Over the next five years, these events posed a financial challenge to the Cowies, disrupting their primary production income. The recovery phase required the trees to mature for five years before becoming commercially viable again.
Despite nearly losing their lives defending their property, the Cowie family, with support from the community and neighbors, has managed to revive their lychee operation. The farm, once a charred landscape, is now lush and green, with the family planning to expand their market reach across Australia as production increases. They are currently focusing on the Sydney market during their recovery phase.
As the Queensland Rural Fire Service warns of the ongoing bushfire risk despite early rain, landowners, including the Cowies, are urged to prepare and mitigate against future fires. Naomi Scott, acting manager of bushfire mitigation, emphasizes the importance of cleaning up properties and establishing adequate fire breaks ahead of the fire season. Eddie Cowie, with nearly four decades of experience in the State Emergency Service, acknowledges the continuous financial strain disasters pose on farmers, highlighting the need for preparedness and education to mitigate future events.
Source: ABC News