More than 2.5 million sterile fruit flies have been released in the Riverland, as the region battles five outbreaks of Queensland fruit fly, which could cost local farmers and communities millions of dollars.

Speaking to the ABC, Member for Chaffey Tim Whetstone has called on backyard fruit tree owners to strip their trees of fruit to do their part to help get the region’s 1.3 billion horticulture industry back to their fruit fly-free status.

"Over 33 tons of fruit have been collected, we would imagine that there would be significantly more fruit to be collected if people were to strip their trees."

He said the full economic impact of the outbreaks was yet to be seen but it cost growers more than $4 a case to treat their fruit.

"I am estimating it could be $20 million and be as much as $30 million coming out of the local economy.