Australia Weather News
Ben Whitcroft says there was not much he could do to protect his banana trees from a recent heatwave. (ABC Pilbara: Rachel Hagan)
Fruitgrowers in Western Australia's Gascoyne food bowl have suffered nearly $1 million in crop losses as fruit literally cooked on the vine during a recent heatwave.
Residents in Carnarvon, about 900 kilometres north of Perth, endured three consecutive days of temperatures in the high 40s last week, topping out at a new January record of 47.9 degrees Celsius.
Early data from the local growers' association suggests producers are facing losses close to $1 million across the town, although the full extent of heatwave damage is still unclear.
It comes just weeks after mango growers reported what was expected to be a bumper season, producing enormous fruit.
Record heat 'boils' fruit
Carnarvon banana grower Ben Whitcroft said the heatwave killed off 30 to 40 per cent of his crop.
"It's devastating for us," he said.
"Watching the banana trees cook was not a fun experience."
The Carnarvon Growers Association (CGA) is helping farmers to fully assess the financial impact.
CGA president Phil Frzop said responses were still coming in, but the losses were incredibly serious.
"From the responses we have we've lost up to $850,000 to $900,000, but we haven't got all the responders yet," he said.
"Mainly bananas and mangoes, avocados and limes ... probably some melon crops and if people had pumpkin they would have burnt as well."
Mr Frzop said it could take up to a year to understand the full extent of damage from this heatwave, but the impacts were devastating.
"When you lose all your income in one hit for a while, it's certainly going to hurt a lot of farmers."
Unusually hot summer
Warm summer days are not unusual for Carnarvon, with growers using various methods to protect mangoes from sun damage.
But Carnarvon Shire president and mango grower Eddie Smith said this year's heat was different.
"[Temperatures of] 34C, 40C, 35C is quite normal but not 48C, 49C," Mr Smith said.
"Historically, we get the odd hot day here and there but not for three days.
"If that was to happen again, some of these people would be in awful strife."
Growers are now preparing for another possible heatwave event in the region, with temperatures in the town on Sunday forecast to hit 41C.
Calls for change
Unlike in other states, WA farmers impacted by heatwaves cannot access disaster payments.
This is because the state's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) does not classify heatwaves, frost or drought as natural disasters.
Eddie Smith said formally recognising heatwaves as significant disaster events could help growers financially recover in future.
"Heatwaves don't do structural damage and they don't cause problems like [floods do] but they do a lot of damage to the crops, which is people's income," he said.
WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis said the department was aware of damage to Carnarvon growers crops, and heatwaves were not uncommon at this time of year.
"Growers are familiar with managing climate variability as a normal part of their business management," she said in a statement.
"The Department of Primary Industry and Regional Development is continuing to work with growers to research climate resilient options for their crops and businesses."
ABC