Community
19 March, 2023
Banana farmer back on track
TWO years after Tropical Cyclone Niran wiped out Boogan banana grower Sebastian Di Salvo’s entire banana crop, he’s back to full production.
“When the damaging winds hit us, it was the worst predicament we could have been in,” he said.
“I had seven or eight staff, and I think it took us about four or five weeks to clean up 65ha of bananas.”
Today, his farming business Tropic Di Salvo is in full production, and he attributes the turnaround to assistance from the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority.
“At the moment we’ve been busy bringing bananas into the shed, packing them and getting them to market,” he said.
“We’re back on track and it’s also been good to see favourable growing conditions recently.”
Soon after the disaster, Mr Di Salvo received a $75,000 Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Grant from QRIDA.
As he was an eligible impacted primary producer, he made an initial application of $25,000 for the grant.
“We needed the funds to help cover the costs of wages to assist in the clean-up,” he said.
“In our application we provided photos to show the significant damage to the banana plantation.”
After receiving $25,000, he applied for the remaining $50,000 of the grant.
“This helped with further contractor clean-up costs, wages and materials,” he said.
Mr Di Salvo also applied for a $250,000 Disaster Assistance Loan to help with further crop re-establishment costs.
“I think it’s very important that people who are affected get as much financial assistance as they can,” he said.
“We are primary producers. We are at the mercy of the weather, and QRIDA is there to help us for that reason … it’s a big help.”
With cyclones likely for Far North Queensland this season, Mr Di Salvo is urging other primary producers to remain alert.
“You don’t want to see anyone suffer 100 per cent losses, it’s really heartbreaking, so I think we all feel for each other,” he said.
Mr Di Salvo advises growers that after a disaster, get in touch with QRIDA about what financial assistance might be available.
“My regional area manager for Far North Sam Spina helped me and I can’t fault him,” he said.
“He does whatever he can for us at all times.”
