Australia's Northern Territory (NT) is set to lose its largest banana plantation under a new plan to eradicate the fungus disease Banana Freckle. 

Approval was recently granted by a national industry and government biosecurity group for a NT eradication plan, continuing with work that began there a year ago.

The estimated cost of the four-year program, including the work already completed, is estimated at about AUD$26 million (US$22.6 million).

Eradication work began last October after Banana Freckle, or Phyllosticta cavendishii, was first found on Cavendish plants in rural-residential backyards near Darwin in July 2013. The fungal disease causes dark, raised blemishes on banana plants and fruit.

It is hoped work can begin in April 2017 on showing the disease has been wiped out, and quarantine restrictions can be lifted when proof has been established.

Australian Banana Growers' Council (ABGC) chairman Doug Phillips said in a release the new eradication plan's approval was a win for the Australian banana industry which would face substantial damage if the disease spread from the NT into major growing regions.

“Banana Freckle is one of the world's worst banana diseases and this new eradication plan is necessary to protect Australia's banana industry and its [AUD]$600 million [US$522 million] annual production,” Mr Phillips said.

“Since Banana Freckle was first detected in the Territory on Cavendish bananas in July 2013, the banana industry and government have been working together to eradicate the disease and develop a plan to rid the Territory of this disease and safeguard the national banana industry.

“It's positive news for the Australian banana industry that the eradication work can now continue under a new, stronger response plan. It will also help protect the longer-term future of both the commercial banana industry that remains in the Territory as well as backyard banana growing there.”

Commercial banana production in the NT has already been severely reduced in recent years by the soil-borne disease Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4) which kills banana plants and cannot be eradicated. The NT is the only known Australian location of TR4.

The eradication response is being conducted by the NT under the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed. This Deed is the agreement between the Australian Government, all state and territory governments, most plant industries and Plant Health Australia to manage emergency plant pests.

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