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News & Events
A stir fry of information in new report on Asian Vegetables
Published: 11-Jan-10
The first ever detailed study into diseases and pests affecting Asian vegetables grown in Australia was released today by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC).
Managing Diseases and Pests in Asian Vegetables provides the estimated 1,600 growers of Asian vegetables in Australia with information to assist them develop strategies to manage diseases and pests that affect their vegetables, and in turn, help them reduce crop losses, increase productivity and ensure supply of their products to processors and consumers.
“With a growing number of Australians eating Asian vegetables such as Chinese broccoli, Vietnamese lettuce and Asian basil, the industry has experienced significant growth in the last two decades and is estimated to now contribute approximately $150 million to the Australian economy each year,” Dr Roslyn Prinsley, General Manager of New Rural Industries said.
“It’s believed that by correctly diagnosing and applying effective management strategies to deal with pests, sales could increase by 20-60 percent, making this report a valuable tool for all growers in the Asian vegetable industry.
“People who eat Asian vegetables will also benefit from this report, as growers now have information available to them that helps them become less reliant on the use of conventional pesticides. And with many farms based around the fringes of our major cities, particularly Sydney, this is an important report from a community health and safety perspective.”
Key findings were:
- Integrated pest and disease management practices are effective for Asian vegetables, but scouting for pests early is critical to gaining an early understanding of pest activity
- The incidence and severity of major diseases and pests can vary with temporal, meteorological and geographical changes
- The use of bilingual field officers and community advocates could significantly assist in growers’ understanding of integrated pest and disease management practices.
Researchers also worked with Asian vegetable growers – predominantly from Chinese, Vietnamese and Cambodian backgrounds – to help them gain a better understanding of growing conditions in Australia. In NSW, 115 growers were trained to Certificate III in Agriculture, while in Victoria, 47 growers trained in chemical use, food safety and post harvesting.
Dr Prinsley said that apart from providing growers with valuable new information to help them improve their pest management practices, the study also helped change behaviour among growers. For example, there were significant positive changes in the use and application of chemicals, including more targeted spraying based on pest monitoring rather than a calendar schedule, as well as greater use of personal protection equipment.
The report’s principal investigator was Len Tesoriero from Industry and Investment NSW. The report is available on RIRDC’s website www.rirdc.gov.au
Media enquiries:
Duncan Sheppard – RIRDC Public Affairs Manager – 02 6271 4175 or 0458 215 604