Seeka Kiwifruit Industries has said it will be cutting jobs next season because of the lower expected crop due to Psa-V infection of its Bay of Plenty orchards. The company has made a voluntary redundancy offer to staff as a first step.
“We have to be proactive and take steps to reset our cost structure,” said Seeka chief executive Michael Franks. “Our throughput will be hit and our earnings will be affected.”
Seeka predicts it will pack 20% of the national kiwifruit crop in 2012 and it’s anticipating cutting numbers from its permanent staff of 266 this financial year in anticipation of reduced turnover in the coming year. It also expects to reduce its number of seasonal workers during next season to below the 3000 the company usually employs.
Latest data shows that 66% of the gold kiwifruit orchard area and 18% of green plantings have been affected by Psa-V in the Te Puke priority zone. Seeka reports that just over 50% of its total gold kiwifruit supply area has been infected, and 14% of its green source.
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