The State Government will put $800,000 towards a research project aimed at producing smaller, more productive avocado trees Agriculture Minister John McVeigh said today.
Mr McVeigh said the “Small-Tree High-Productivity” research and development project, which began last year, had received a further boost from Horticulture Australia Ltd, with more than $3 million over the next three years.
“The funding, in addition to this Government’s contribution of $800,000 over four years, demonstrates industry’s recognition of the huge potential of this to boost production of tropical horticulture tree crops like avocado, mango and macadamias,” Mr McVeigh said.
“We want to get the most from every tree.
“Smaller trees are more efficient and maximise yield through more growth in fruit and less in branches and leaves.
“It’s easier and quicker to harvest small trees, which in the end, means lower production costs for farmers.”
Mr McVeigh said the extra funding would allow the research team to be expanded.
The Government had recently appointed ten new frontline agriculture staff, and three of them will work on the small tree project.
Two would work in Bundaberg and one in Mareeba.
“They’ll establish and maintain experimental planting blocks of avocado and macadamias at the Bundaberg Research Station and DAFF has also set up a new research block at Walkamin with mango as the first trial crop,” Mr McVeigh said.
“Trials include dwarfing rootstocks, pruning techniques, tree architecture and traditional breeding, helped by the latest molecular technology – all of which will help keep trees small for optimised harvesting with very high yields per hectare.”
The project is funded by Horticulture Australia Ltd using the Across Horticulture levy and voluntary contributions from the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Queensland, along with matching funds from the Australian Government.
In-kind support is also being provided by the Department, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the University of Queensland.
