New Zealand's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) expects the country's gold kiwifruit production could fall by between 33-66% in 2012, due to the effects of vine disease Psa.

In a half-year update, MAF said production could potentially fall from 30 million trays this year to 10-20 million trays in 2012.

"Overall, up to 20 percent of Gold kiwifruit in Te Puke could still be harvested, and up to 80 percent in the wider Bay of Plenty. This would yield an export volume of around 16 million trays of Gold kiwifruit," the ministry said.

"Psa has been slower to affect Green kiwifruit orchards, but orchard infection numbers have ramped up during the 2011 spring. The impact of Psa on green orchards in the medium term remains uncertain.

"Overall, export volumes are expected to fall 21 percent to 89 million trays, and export returns are expected to fall 18 percent to $862 million, for the year ending 31 March 2013."

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Photo: Nathan Balasingham

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