Papaya industry extension and communications program (PP20000)

This project supported Australian papaya growers in adopting improved practices on-farm and keeping up to date with the latest industry news, information, resources, and technologies. Engagement with growers and supply chain stakeholders over the duration of the project led to an improvement in their knowledge, awareness, skills and aspirations, contributing to an increase in overall industry profitability and sustainability. 

Challenge  

Papaya growers face ongoing difficulties with pests, diseases, and inefficient production methods, which impact profitability and sustainability across the industry.  

Response  

The project team worked collaboratively with the papaya industry, relevant stakeholders, and value chain members to benchmark, co-design, and implement a program that focuses on:  

• Agronomic practices which improve input efficiencies
• Integrated pest and disease management (IPDM)
• Improved post-harvest value chain management practices.  

The above practices were demonstrated and communicated to papaya growers to encourage adoption.  

In total, the project implemented over 400 hours of grower engagement through farm visits, workshops, phone calls, and six on-farm demonstration trials.  

Trials were co-designed with farmers, ensuring that the research directly addressed their needs and contributed to practice adoption.  

Six workshops were delivered over the course of the project, covering topics such as spray efficiency, breeding, pest and disease control, and industry priority setting. Workshops took a practical, hands-on approach, incorporating direct input from growers to enhance learning and outcomes.  

Six on-farm demonstrations showcased innovative approaches to:  

1. Early sex determination of papaya seedlings through Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodologies.
2. Nitrogen requirements of papaya
3. Phytophthora systems management
4. Leafhopper population monitoring for phytoplasma control
5. Single-plant versus quad-plant comparisons
6. Incorporating predatory mites into pest management strategies. 

 Other key outputs included:  

• The Papaya Australia ‘For Growers’ website
• A best practice compendium
• The quarterly ‘Papaya Press’ newsletter, with nine issues distributed to growers over the course of the project. 

The project’s priority setting workshop, involving 80 per cent of the papaya industry, helped define key areas of focus including Phytophthora management, IPDM, mite control, and improved nursery practices. 

Benefit  

The project successfully engaged 95 per cent of the industry, with workshops and one-on-one visits contributing to an increase in the knowledge, awareness, skills and aspirations for 90 per cent of the papaya industry regarding IPDM, agronomic practices and improved efficiencies, and post-harvest value chain management. 

Key achievements included:  

• The establishment of demonstration sites on commercial farms, which transformed growers’ knowledge, awareness, skills, and aspirations.
• Positive changes in IPDM practices were adopted by 70 per cent of the industry, including the use of biocontrol, improved chemical product selection, and cultural practices, resulting in reduced chemical inputs, better fruit quality, and higher yields.
• 60 per cent of the industry showed positive change in agronomic practices, such as optimised nursery methods, improved fertilisation programs, improved spray coverage and conversion to the single planting method. This led to improved input efficiencies, reduced waste, and improved fruit quality.
• An alternate seedling establishment method was identified, with the shift to the single plant per site technique demonstrating early productivity gains of 20-50 per cent.
• Five growers were trained in molecular methods for early papaya sex determination, with three of them establishing their own labs and one using the method commercially.  

The project fostered stronger relationships and networks within the industry, leading to positive practice changes in high priority areas, driving the Australian papaya sector’s sustainability and profitability.