The Victorian Famers Federation says the $6.4 million for Queensland Fruit Fly detection and prevention is a downpayment on eradicating the pest altogether.
VFF Horticulture president Nathan Free agreed with Opposition Agriculture spokesman Peter Walsh the amount was effectively a funding cut.
But Mr Free said he was pleased the funding would allow current programs to continue.
"It's a massive problem and without any funding the industry could have been destroyed," Mr Free said.
"It is a cut - and industry needs to come back and fight for more money to really resolve this problem.
"The money that's been provided gives security to the people on the ground to keep up enforcement, and working with industry.
"This is maintenance work, but we need to eradicate this pest."
QFF poses a significant risk to horticulture crops throughout Victoria and is a major barrier that can prohibit the export of local fruit interstate and to key international markets such as China.
"We understand there is a drop in funding, but we need to push forward and get better systems in place to get other grants to try and clean up this massive issue.
"We need to keep the jobs there to be able to keep monitoring, enforcing and being able to discuss issues with the relevant government departments."
But he said there needed to be a proper plan in place, for a permanent solution.
Mr Free noted that while a large range of horticulture crops were affected, the pests were often found on residential properties and wild plants.
"These kind of collaborative community, industry and government projects are key to protecting regional Victoria's productivity and our reputation for high-quality produce," Mr Free said.
"If we don't properly fund our biosecurity, we risk our market access across the world and forever disadvantage our horticulture industry."
He said there were significant issues with fruit fly, towards the end of summer.
"We need to be working very quickly, to get on top of this issue."
The VFF was pleased the funding would be used to deliver Regional Fruit Fly Co-ordinators who were held in high regard by growers.
Mr Walsh said the government had confirmed it would slash funds, with just $5.3 million to be allocated to community grants over the next four years - a cut of $2.54 million.
He slammed the cuts, saying it left farmers exposed when they could least afford it.
"The government's cuts to critical biosecurity programs couldn't come at a worse time," Mr Walsh said.
"The seasonal worker shortage and growing uncertainty on access to key markets in China are putting serious pressure on producers and our $2.95 billion horticulture sector."
Mr Walsh said more, not less, funds should be put into biosecurity to protect the sector, which employed nearly 15,000 Victorians and generated $1.6 billion in exports - 14 per cent of Victoria's total food exports.
"Our agriculture sector rightly expects governments to be focused on strengthening biosecurity to better protect farmers against damaging pest outbreaks," Mr Walsh said.
"Cutting millions from biosecurity shows years of multi-billion-dollar cost blowouts and poor management of the COVID pandemic has come back to bite the government.
"But it's our farmers who are wearing the consequences."
Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
