According to New Zealand's ministry of agriculture and forestry, the bacterial vine disease Psa, which hit the country's kiwifruit crop last year, could cut export returns by as much as 25 per cent, the New Zealand Herald has reported.
The disease is having a major effect on the gold variety, the ministry said, while its impact on the green remains 'uncertain'.
As a result, gold kiwifruit exports could reportedly fall by two-thirds, with green kiwifruit shipments dropping by an eighth.
In value terms, exports could decrease by as much as quarter to NZ$782m (€453m) in the year to 31 March 2013, although ministry officials believe an 18 per cent drop to $862m (€500m) more likely.
Meanwhile, the ministry's best case scenario would see export returns fall by 13 per cent to NZ$915m (€530m) in 2013.
The ministry stated: 'The impact Psa has had over the past year, and will continue to have, on rural businesses and local communities has raised the question of the Government’s role in assisting recovery and the ministry is investigating options.'
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