The fungal disease Banana Freckle has spread to two more locations in the Northern Territory, according to the Department of Primary Industry.
Two new eradication zones have been declared around properties in Humpty Doo and Acacia Hills, south of Darwin.
Chief plant health manager Stephen West says all banana plants within a one-kilometre radius of the infected properties will be destroyed.
“On one level it’s bad news but on another level we know it’s there and now we need to address that.
“It does not include any commercial banana plantations at all but the downside is that people who are in the one-kilometre circles will lose their bananas,” he said.
“The one-kilometre circle (at Humpty Doo) takes in around about 100 properties…and about 50 per cent have banana on some level.”
With the disease initially discovered in July, two other eradication zones have already been established for Banana Freckle, at Howard Springs and Batchelor.
No banana plants within the ‘at risk’ areas will be allowed to be grown for at least 12 months.
Mr West says Banana Freckle causes blemishes on the fruit and reduces commercial value, but there is no risk to human health.
Source: ABC Rural